In early 2019, Callie was 25 years old, glowing with excitement about the future. She was athletic, energetic, and preparing to welcome her first child with her fiancé, Jose. Life felt expansive and full of promise. But what began as mild discomfort during pregnancy soon spiraled into a diagnosis that would test every ounce of her strength: Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer.
Her story is not just about illness. It is about instinct, resilience, motherhood, and the fierce determination to survive—for herself and for the baby she had not yet met.
When Pregnancy Symptoms Mask Something More Serious
At first, nothing seemed alarming. Callie experienced jaw pain and nasal congestion—symptoms that were easily attributed to pregnancy. Hormonal changes can cause swelling and sinus issues, and like many expectant mothers, she trusted the reassurance she received from doctors.
But as weeks passed, the discomfort intensified. The pain in her jaw worsened. Breathing became more difficult. A noticeable lump began to form. Despite multiple visits to healthcare providers, she was told variations of the same thing: it was likely pregnancy-related.
Deep down, Callie felt something wasn’t right.
It wasn’t until her mother insisted on further investigation that she was referred to an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. An MRI scan changed everything. For the first time, cancer was mentioned as a possibility. Doctors tried to remain optimistic, suggesting there was a high chance the growth would be benign.
But in March 2019, the biopsy results delivered devastating news: it was Ewing sarcoma.
What Is Ewing Sarcoma?
Ewing sarcoma is a rare and fast-growing cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. It typically forms in bones or the soft tissue around them. Because of its rarity and its ability to mimic other conditions, diagnosis can sometimes be delayed—especially when symptoms overlap with common issues, as in Callie’s case.
By the time Callie received her diagnosis, she was 34 weeks pregnant. The tumor was located in her jaw and growing aggressively. The emotional weight of confronting cancer while carrying a child is almost unimaginable. Yet Callie and Jose made a choice that would define the months ahead: they would fight.
A Race Against Time: Delivering Early to Save Two Lives
As her pregnancy progressed, the tumor continued to expand. It began obstructing her airways. Simple tasks became exhausting. Headaches grew severe. Eventually, her condition escalated into a medical emergency. Scans revealed that the tumor had spread, causing significant sinus complications and sepsis.
Doctors faced a complex and urgent question: how to protect both mother and baby?
The decision was made to deliver the baby early so Callie could begin aggressive cancer treatment. She received steroid injections to accelerate her baby’s lung development in preparation for premature birth.
On April 26, 2019, Callie delivered her daughter, Arabella, via cesarean section—six weeks early.
Against all odds, Arabella was healthy.
For Callie, holding her newborn daughter for the first time was both a moment of profound joy and a painful reminder of the battle ahead. Her fight had only just begun.
Surgery, Chemotherapy, and the Brutal Reality of Treatment
Just days after giving birth, Callie underwent surgery to reduce the tumor burden. Recovery from major surgery is challenging under any circumstances. Doing so while postpartum and preparing for chemotherapy requires extraordinary mental and physical resilience.
She began an intensive chemotherapy regimen known as VDC/IE—a powerful combination designed to attack aggressive cancer cells. The treatment came with severe side effects:
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Extreme fatigue
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Hair loss
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Persistent nausea
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Compromised immune system
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Extended hospital stays
Over the course of her treatment, Callie missed 130 nights with her newborn daughter.
Imagine becoming a mother—and then being separated from your baby for months at a time, not by choice, but by necessity. Each hospital stay was an emotional rupture. Yet Arabella’s photos, videos, and tiny milestones became Callie’s lifeline. Every smile was a reason to endure another round of chemotherapy.
A Cutting-Edge Hope: Proton Beam Therapy
In addition to chemotherapy, Callie underwent proton beam therapy at a specialized cancer center. Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation that targets tumors with remarkable precision, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
For seven grueling weeks, she completed 31 rounds of treatment.
Each session required strength she sometimes feared she didn’t have. But she showed up—again and again—anchored by one simple goal: survive for her daughter.
Proton therapy represented more than medical innovation. It represented possibility.
The Words Every Patient Hopes to Hear: Remission
In 2020, after months of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, Callie received life-altering news: her cancer was in remission.
Remission does not erase trauma. It does not instantly restore physical strength or eliminate fear of recurrence. But it does bring something priceless—hope.
For the first time in over a year, Callie could imagine a future that extended beyond treatment schedules and scan results. She could begin rebuilding her body, her confidence, and her life.
Life After Cancer: The Invisible Battles
Surviving cancer is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of a new chapter.
Callie continued to experience:
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Persistent fatigue
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Muscle loss
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Emotional vulnerability
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Anxiety before follow-up scans
At the same time, she was navigating early motherhood. Sleepless nights, feeding schedules, first smiles, first steps—all layered atop physical recovery.
Yet something within her had changed. Facing mortality reshaped her priorities. Small moments became sacred. Gratitude replaced trivial worries.
Arabella’s growth became a daily reminder of why the fight mattered.
The Power of Support
Throughout her journey, Jose remained steadfast. He attended appointments, managed hospital logistics, cared for their newborn, and provided emotional stability when everything felt uncertain.
Family and friends formed a protective circle around Callie. They helped with childcare, meals, encouragement, and unwavering belief.
Cancer may be an individual diagnosis—but survival is often a collective effort.
Raising Awareness: A Mission Beyond Survival
Before her diagnosis, Callie had never heard of Ewing sarcoma. Now, she speaks openly about it. She urges others to trust their instincts and push for answers when something feels wrong.
Her experience underscores several powerful lessons:
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Young and healthy individuals can still face serious illness.
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Persistent symptoms deserve persistent investigation.
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Early detection can change outcomes.
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Advocacy saves lives.
By sharing her story, Callie hopes to shorten the diagnostic journey for someone else.
A Future Reclaimed
Today, Callie continues regular follow-ups, but her life is no longer defined solely by cancer. It is defined by resilience.
She watches Arabella grow stronger every day—a child who entered the world in the shadow of crisis but became the brightest source of light.
Cancer left scars, both visible and invisible. But it also revealed strength Callie never knew she possessed.
Her journey reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear. It is moving forward despite it.
Pregnant and fighting for her life, Callie faced one of the rarest and most aggressive cancers imaginable. She endured surgery days after childbirth. She survived months away from her newborn. She completed exhausting treatment protocols. And she emerged—not unchanged, but undefeated.
Her story is not just about remission.
It is about love powerful enough to outlast fear.
It is about a mother’s determination.
It is about hope—stubborn, radiant, and unbreakable.