Family Battling Breast Cancer During Pregnancy Rejoices Over Healthy Baby

DENVER (CBS4) - A young Denver couple is delighted in their brand new baby boy, but one of the most exciting times has also been one of the most stressful -- the new mother is also fighting breast cancer.

CBS4 Health Specialist Kathy Walsh first reported on the Addisons in September. Now she got to meet the baby.

Christmas arrived early for the Addisons. Baby Benjamin entered the world on Nov. 25. He was 4 pounds, 5 ounces and 6 weeks ahead of schedule.

"It was amazing. It was one of the best -- probably the best day of my life," Ryan Addison said.

Ryan and Sarah are smitten. Ben is an awesome gift in a pretty awful year. When Sarah was just weeks into her pregnancy she learned she had both a growing baby boy and breast cancer. She's since learned to see the bright side.

"I don't know if I would have been diagnosed if I wasn't seeing a doctor regularly for my pregnancy, so in that sense I think that being pregnant saved my life," Sarah said.

It's rare for someone 25 years old to develop breast cancer. Sarah has aggressively fought it with chemotherapy and a double mastectomy -- all while pregnant.

"Ben's fine. He wasn't affected by the chemo and came out with a full head of hair," Sarah said.

There have been plenty of worries, but Ben's arrival was wonderful.

"I told Sarah it was like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders when he was there crying and she was okay," Ryan said.

New chemotherapy starts on New Year's Eve.

"Just sort of the unknown is somewhat scary," Sarah said.

But Ryan and Sarah lean on one another. They're loving partners, loving parents, and they trust they'll beat cancer and enjoy watching Ben grow.