Teen mother sacrifices life after halting chemo for unborn baby

Apr, 17, 2012 | AUTHOR: Darren O; | Related : News

We write about the show Teen Mom all the time here and chronicle all the difficult decisions the cast members of the show make in light of having a child to care for. But never has any of their choices come close to the ultimate sacrifice that 17-year-old Jenni Lake made for her unborn son.

This story is actually one that circulated back in December from a report filed by local affiliate KIFI. I came across it while checking out Selena Gomez’s Twitter feed of all places. A week ago Gomez tweeted, “Love is.……,” and then linked to the heartbreaking story via HLN. We try to stay current here with our posts but I was so touched by Jenni’s story, which I was not familiar with, that I thought I’d share it with our readers.

Jenni was from Pocatello, Idaho. In Oct. of 2010 she was diagnosed with Grade 3 brain cancer and given a prognosis of 2 years to live.

In March of 2011, the family was informed that her tumors were shrinking. This good news was buoyed when Jenni’s mom found her daughter crying in her room following a trip to the emergency room with her boyfriend, Nathan Wittman.

It turned out, Jenni was pregnant.

Jenni’s mom, Diana Phillips, said:

“She was pretty scared, because the baby had been through two rounds of chemo from March and April, and she was just about to start another round.”

Here is a video report filed by HLN:

Upon discovery of her pregnancy Jenni, out of the fear of the effects chemotherapy would have on her unborn child, made the completely unselfish decision of halting her treatment. On Nov. 9th, 2011 she gave birth to her son, Chad Michael. Just two weeks later Jenni succumbed to her cancer, passing away on Nov. 22nd, 2011.

Chad Michael is being raised by his father with assistance from Jenni’s family. Selena has it right. Love is the story of a very courageous Jenni Lake who proved once again that a mother’s love knows no bounds.

Some of the comments that followed this story via HLN were accusatory, questioning how Jenni became pregnant. Her sister replied and I thought I’d include that as well. There are some typos but Jenni’s sister actually apologized for that explaining the response was from her iPhone…

Hello all of you!

I’m Jenni Lake’s oldest sister. I would just like to say that I do appreciate the support that many of you have shown. I do understand the arguments that some of you make such as “she was irresponsible”, “she should have used birth control”, and “she should have abstained from sex.” In my opinion, it wasn’t an irResponsible choice she made. It was indeed selfless. As for birth control, she was on it until it was later learned that chemotherapy counteracts it. Sure, a conDom might have been useful and do could abstinence, however, we are all human bEings and capable of making our own decisions. I don’t believe we should judge each other on such unless you are the all might God himself. It is not any of our places. In my opinion, the fact of the matter is that she lived up to everything She’s always wanted to do. To me, that is the meaning of life itself and I’m glad she fulfilled her life her way, no one else’s and I am more proud of her than I have ever been of anyone before.

If you’re interested in how you can help fight this terrible disease I encourage you to visit The V Foundation, which is focused on funding research to help one day beat cancer.

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Keali

omg this is so sad what a good mommy!
Stephanie

Touching story; she must have been an amazing young woman.
rie_rie

This is absolutely heartbreaking! My heart breaks for her son who will never know his mother, but will know that she loved him from the start!
Madia

It’s amazing to see how much she sacrificed for her child when you see so many other young mothers (from 16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom) unwilling to give up their trivial ways. It’s much easier to stop drinking/drugging/partying than it is to make the decision to stop chemotherapy. She’s an inspiration!
Heidi

WOW! what a great & inspiring story that among the hurt and loss for those who love her, they can be so proud of her decision and possibly be an inspiration to others who may have to face a similar choice. God obviously has a mighty purpose for that precious little life that is alive because of her sacrifice!!
Nicole Evans

I believe that any mother-to-be puts aside her own health for that of her unborn child. That is true love for someone else. I applause her for what she did and it’s sad that she passed but at least she isn’t suffering, but i’m sure she is suffering in heaven because she can’t be with her baby. My condolences to the family. Stay strong for that baby.
Neacy

That’s so sad and inspiring. My prayers are with her family… but on a side note it would make a pretty good Lifetime Movie.
Sheila

While this story is truly heartbreaking I actually don’t agree with her decision. I’ll leave it at that.
Bohiko

OMG, that made my cry! Rest in peace jenni.
Kim

I think the boy should let jenni mom have the baby. untill he get’s out of highschool and has a stable job, home, and can provide for him. It would help him and his son in the long run. It will also help the mom heal and fell close to her daughter.
- ER
  
  I guess I can see where you are coming from Kim but I totally disagree. He is a dad regardless of whether he is in school, working, etc and he’s also lost somebody. I can’t imagine the double whammy of losing your girlfriend and also your child so quickly. The mom has 17 years of memories with her daughter and I am sure they are being extra sensitive and allowing her lots of time with her grandson. It’s even more important in this time of stress that the child’s dad bonds and builds a relationship with his child.
- http://www.facebook.com/amberlynn456 Amber Lynn Bosquez
  
  I would just like to say if you don’t know the full TRUE story you shouldnt speak. I am Jenni’s best friend I am also her bf best friend. I was with her when she passed I was pretty much with her for 3 weeks straight while eveything was going on I had know jenni and bf for a very long time before then. Her bf Iwas 19 the time this happened, He was OUT of school, and he had a STEADY JOB and he DOES provide for him. I can see whre you are coming from about Jenni’s mom healing but see this didnt just affect her mother it affect her bf to he needs to heal too. He is the father there is no way anyone is going to give her mom the baby because the father is still around and alive. I had many talks with Jenni about her cancer and pregnacy she did not mean to get pregnate but the drs told her the chemo would make her sterile so she couldn’t have kid, she was very surpirsed when she found out she was having Chad, the drs gave jenni 2 yrs or less before she would pass. She knew he time was coming soon, even though she had a very positive attitude about her cancer she knew she wasn’t going to make it. A lot of the comments I have read about her story (not all of them are on this site, they are on many others) have made it seem like oh she was slutty for getting pregnate that young, or she just haad the baby just so she could expirance it before she died, or she should have been using some sort of conterseptive so she wouldnt get pregnate. 1. most teenager have sex thats just the way it is 2. She didnt plan this pregnacy and yes maybe she did want to expirance having a child before she passed but that wasnt her motive, she found out she was having a child and she decided to keep it because she really wasn’t for abortion even if it could to harm to her, 3. The drs told her she was sterile, yeah maybe it would have been a wise decion to use a condom but she made a mistake who doesnt, and the drs told her she only have 2 yrs to live maybe the baby and stoping her chemo sped up the process but from what she told me she knew it was going to happen so why have an abortion and end up losing 2 people? she cut her time short soher baby could live, she just sacrifced somethign like every mom does when they have a child. I love and miss her sooo much and when I read comments like this one and other stupid people it pisses me off because you guys have no right to judge and most of you shouldn’t open your mouth because you do not know the full story
Stephanie

I come to this site all of the time and was shocked to read a story about someone I actually knew. I had known Jenni since I was a little tike, and had the opportunity to grow up with her. She really made the ultimate sacrifice! Everytime I hear this story it still brings tears to my eyes. Thank you starcasm for posting this story.
KAITEY

This is what they should make shows about. Not spoiled little MTV brats whose biggest problems are when to get their nails done and what new car to buy.
priscilla

what a beautiful mother!
doradora

@Kim, wtf? What a stupid comment. Do you personally know the guy? Why should he hand over his child, when the child’s already lost one parent? No,Jenni’s mother should not have the baby so she can ‘fell closer to the baby’. What a child needs is love, and if it can come from it’s parent all the better. My son’s father also died, I haven’t completed a degree, should I have given him away? Ummm, NO! You sound really thick, no offense.
shavonne

What an amazing story… How beautiful of a person she had to have been. Love is…. Exactly jenni.
michelle

so sad!!

her son was born the same day and year as mine! this story definetly touched my heart. I couldn’t imagine.
erica

This is very sad. Bless her heart and if ppl only knew about chemo. When you are on chemo or have had chemo Dr say its very hard to have a baby and will need Dr help. For some reason that baby was meant to be here and only god knows why and its a part of here living on. I give my love to her family and friends and hope everyone sticks together. remember its several ppl to raise a child not just one. prays out to all you.
Shell

How could anyone be negative about this? Who cares about what she COULD have done? It’s gone! It’s the past! She gave up her life so that her little boy would be healthy! I think anyone who can talk crap about that is just jealous because they know they couldn’t be that selfless. That baby will always have a very special angel watching over him. Such a sad story.
nathan

I am that “boy”, however last time i checked turning 20 in less then a month kind of means im an adult. I’ve been out of high school for 2 years and have a job. People always complain about how youth nowadays arnt responsible im raising our kid and you say i should give him up, think before you speak you know nothing of the situation. Also as mentioned earlier we were told chemo 1.counteracts birth control and 2. We were told she would most likely never give birth.
Kim

What an amazing Mum she would have been had she survived. I too would give up my own life for my child and she has proven how strong the bond is between Mother and Child. May she Rest in Peace knowing she did the most amazing thing for her child.
And may he grow up respecting her for this.
Good luck with everything you all do in the future.