BELIEVE You Can OVARCOME!
This is the beautiful and inspiring story of Mykka Levia, 38 years old, mother of three. Mykka got diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January 2018. But her story will have your faith restored in miracles and second chances – of believing in the magical spirit of the season.
Mykka was enjoying being mother to her two sweet boys when she found out she was pregnant with the third! Mykka says it came as a surprise to her as they were not planning for more children. While pregnant, Mykka had her first ultrasound within the first few weeks – it seemed her left ovary couldn’t be seen very well. She continued to grow, and within 3 months of her pregnancy, she started looking 6 months pregnant. Few tests revealed she had cysts which her OB-GYN decided to remove. While this process was ongoing, Mykka got diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was recommended to terminate her pregnancy at 20 weeks.
Mykka was devastated, but she did not give up hope. She chose to seek second opinion from Dana Farber Cancer Institute, one of our partner hospitals in the OvarCare program. The wonderful physicians at DF guided Mykka through the decision making process – it was established that her pregnancy hormones were keeping the cancer stable, so they decided to keep the pregnancy ongoing. Mykka’s cancer was staged at stage III. However, Mykka was able to carry her baby full term and gave birth to a happy, healthy baby boy at 7.9 lbs!
Month after the staging surgery, Mykka underwent full hysterectomy and thereafter she started on her chemotherapy treatment. Initially she experienced some allergic reactions, so had to slow down on her chemo treatment plan, but she continues to be on active treatment.
Mykka tested positive on her BRCA testing. Her mother is a breast cancer survivor, and Mykka shared with Ovarcome that there are quite a few members on her father’s side of the family with cancers, including breast cancer. Having known and understood her genetic risks, Mykka is on top of the choices she is able to make on her treatment plan, as a mutation carrier. She also plans to create a prevention plan for her growing boys.
Mykka is fortunate to have loving friends and family rallying around her as she goes through her treatment. Her Mom stands by her like a rock and helps take care of the baby and her other two boys. Initially it was very hard for Mykka to accept and embrace the fact that she has cancer. She tried to keep the difficult reality from her boys – but Mykka said it was getting increasingly challenging, and she realized they would be better off knowing about her journey.
This picture is from the night Mykka shaved her head – her brother Josh (pictured) was there to provide support. Mykka says her 10 year old boy Jacoby cried the day she shaved her head. Her 12 year old son Boston, asked her “Mom, are you going to be OK?”
Mykka thinks her baby, Boston, is the miracle in her life she had always prayed for. He not only kept her happy and healthy during her pregnancy, but was born a perfect baby. Mykka remains busy taking care of Boston, and says Boston is “God Send” . She is happily preoccupied with motherhood, leaving her less time to feel sad or depressed.
Mykka wants us to BELIEVE in miracles. She wants all of us to know life has a purpose and a design that is unique for all of us. She is thankful for every moment she creates memories with her precious children and is grateful for being able to be there for them. She is thankful for family support, for effective treatment & team of doctors, and her own resilience and faith to OVARCOME. She is just thankful!
This Holiday Season, let’s all uplift one another and BELIEVE! Because, TOGETHER, We Can Ovarcome!
