Pregnant Perth mum forced into emergency delivery after learning she has cancer

A mother has told of the moment she was left unable to talk as doctors diagnosed her with cancer, just weeks before she was due to give birth.

Kezia Summers, 34, from Perth in WA, was forced into an emergency delivery after being called into hospital in the early hours of July 25 when a sinister find was picked up during routine antenatal blood tests.

“It was huge — I was absolutely speechless,” she told 7NEWS.com.au.

“It’s just not something that I thought would happen to someone like me.

“No one in my circle has had cancer.”

The former singing teacher was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), an aggressive form of cancer impacting the blood and bone marrow.

There had been little warning something was wrong, other than feeling a little more breathless and sapped of energy at the end of the day — symptoms that could easily be attributed to her pregnancy.

“They broke the news to me very gently, saying this is what we’ve found and explaining how my red and white blood cell counts were low, how my platelet count was low, treatment options and how the baby would have to come in the next 24 hours,” the mother-of-three said.

“In that moment, I was just thinking about how it would affect my baby.”

The following day, Summers gave birth to a little boy named Joseph via caesarean.

He arrived healthy and weighing 3.1kg, five weeks before his due date.

He has spent some time in the neonatal intensive care unit with minor breathing difficulties, but has recovered well.

Summers said she has had some “beautiful moments” with her new bundle of joy and young family.

“It’s been the hardest thing ever,” she said.

“You feel guilty over everything.

“I’ve had fever and temps from the cancer, and shoulder tip pain, so I haven’t been able to see him and hold him as much as I’d like, because I’ve just been so unwell.”

Summers spoke to 7NEWS.com.au on Friday as she began the first of four rounds of chemotherapy at Fiona Stanley Hospital, where she is expected to be for some time.

Her husband Luke has juggled being by her side, being with their children and his new lawn care business, which he launched just six months ago.

“My husband has been my rock,” Summers said. “I can’t imagine what this experience would be like without him.”

“He’s been staying with me overnight and then racing to work.

“He’s been a massive strength for me.”

Relatives have provided invaluable support too, and she has also found strength from generous loved ones and strangers who have contributed to a GoFundMe set up to support the young family over the coming months.

“I’m so thankful,” she said.

“There are many people I don’t know or haven’t seen in a long time that have donated — I’m absolutely speechless.

“I feel undeserving. I’m just a regular mum and I don’t have enough words to say thank you.

“It’s such a blessing.”