Dying mother follows God, chooses life

An Oklahoma mother has made the ultimate sacrifice for her baby. Stacy Crimm, a 41 year old single mother, was diagnosed with terminal head and neck cancer just months after learning she was pregnant. Given the choice between chemotherapy and the life of her child, she chose life.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (Catholic Online) - Stacey Crimm and her daughter, Dottie Mae, were truly blessed. Thanks to Crimm's sacrifice Dottie Mae can look forward to a full and fulfilling life, and as a special blessing, Stacy Crimm lived long enough to hold her baby.

Crimm had been led to believe by her doctors, that she would never be able to have a child and that  she was incapable of conception. Proving that miracles do happen, Crimm conceived a baby late last year. 

Unfortunately, the joy of pregnancy succumbed to the horror of cancer within weeks. The cancer was fast-moving and painful. Crimm suffered with headaches, television, and tremors that made her entire body shake. When her doctor delivered the diagnosis and suggested chemotherapy, Crimm knew she would be asked to make a terrible choice. However, she knew from the outset that she had been blessed with a beautiful baby, not a choice.

Courageously telling her family that she had decided the risk of chemotherapy was too great for her daughter, she planned to fight as best she could against the aggressive cancer so that she could live long enough to see her baby to term.

The reward came in August, when she gave birth by C-section to Dottie Mae. The C-section was unplanned. Just days away from death, Crimm collapsed in her home. After being rushed to the hospital doctors performed the emergency C-section to deliver her daughter 10 weeks premature, and weighing just 2 pounds, but otherwise healthy.

Dottie Mae was put in an incubator and wheeled to her mother's bedside. Stacy Crimm got to experience the joy of holding her baby before passing away, just three days later.

Dottie Mae is now living with her uncle, Ray Phillips, and his wife Jennifer. Dottie Mae will also have lots of brothers and sisters to play with as the Phillips family has six children.

Stacy Crimm's family supported her throughout the entire pregnancy and battle with cancer. They understand that although Stacy lost her battle with cancer, she won a resounding victory--for life.

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