Woman Faced with Death of Fiance, Sickness of Baby

Woman Faced with Death of Fiance, Sickness of Baby


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Samantha Hayes ReportingRead this story and your worst day probably won't seem so bad anymore. The woman we want you to meet recently experienced the overwhelming and sudden loss of the man she loved. Now she finds herself in the hospital again, this time with their baby in her arms and a devastating diagnosis.

With a twinkle in his eye, Jeppeson Grant's daddy had big plans for his baby boy.

Woman Faced with Death of Fiance, Sickness of Baby

Natalie Huntsman: "He would always tell me he was going to take him flying, just drop him in the back and said he'd give him a bottle so his ears wouldn't hurt."

Father and son never met. Perry Grant died when his plane crashed near Telluride, Colorado last summer.

Natalie Huntsman: "Overwhelming being a single mom. For him, Ihad to be healthy and continue my pregnancy and be strong for my other two kids as well."

Her fiancé's death, her child's birth, just months apart.

Natalie Huntsman: "When he was born, that was a hard moment for me, and of course his tumor."

Doctors say nine-month old Jeppeson has five brain tumors. The cancer is rare and aggressive.

Natalie Huntsman: "A two percent chance of survival, but I believe he's going to make it. I believe miracles do happen."

And she also believes, at times, the man she was planning her life with still stands beside her.

Natalie Huntsman: "As I was leaving my friends and family to walk him down for the MRI, I could feel his dad with us, as I walked down and handed him to the doctors."

His dad named Jeppeson after flight charts and maps made by a company of the same name. Though her course is uncertain now, Natalie says she is guided by the love and support of her family.

Pamela Duncan, Mother: "As a mother, it's the toughest thing. I thought it was tough losing my husband, but watching your children…(silence)."

Natalie Huntsman: "Every day I just put one foot in front of the other, keep my chin up and be grateful for what I do have."

A trust fund has been set up at America First Credit Union under Jeppesen P. Grant. They also have a website that updates his condition, www.jeppesengrant.com

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