“The CHUM’s teams helped me make my greatest dream come true: becoming a mother. People have no idea what I went through. They don’t know that to become the mother I am today, I had and continue to have the support of so many incredible healthcare professionals, as well as donors like you.”
A portrait of courage and strength: Emmanuelle’s road to motherhood
Emmanuelle gave birth to her daughter Alice at the CHUM. When the doctors told her that it would be a C-section birth and she would need to be put under general anaesthesia, she was overwhelmed with anxiety, even though it was the safest thing for her and her unborn child. After all, her pregnancy and the years leading up to it were anything but normal.
In 2019, at just 27 years old, Emmanuelle’s life was turned upside down. She had an arachnoid cyst pressing down on the nerves at the base of her spine, causing what is called cauda equina syndrome—a medical emergency that could end up paralyzing her.
Emmanuelle underwent an initial surgery, but any relief she had was short-lived. The cyst reappeared in the space of a few weeks, requiring a second operation.
“When I awoke from the operation, I was in hell. I could barely move. There was nothing I could do to ease my pain. I was totally reliant on others. I suffered from post-traumatic stress and would have nightmares where I was put under general anaesthesia!”
The most persistent and debilitating after-effect from the second surgery was the neuropathic pain—a condition of the nervous system that frequently made the slightest touch of the skin unbearable.
“A gentle pressure of just 0.03 grams on my feet was enough to cause me pain. It was a challenge every day just to support my own weight. Standing was a torment, and sitting put pressure on my vulnerable nerves. I had to switch back and forth, never finding real relief.”
Dreaming big
“When I started rehab, I told my physiotherapist that one day I hoped to have a child, and to play in the sand with them. I could barely do anything at that point. I had terrible migraines and nausea, and I spent most of my time lying down. But a psychologist had told me not to let fear make my choices for me, and I listened. My partner Martin and I began planning in earnest.”
Emmanuelle learned that she was pregnant in 2022 and initially was receiving care from a hospital near her. But the medical team was unfamiliar with her complex condition and referred her to the CHUM’s Clinique grossesse en situation de handicap.
“I was worried that they would judge me for being pregnant in my physical condition. But the team treated me with extraordinary kindness. I received highly specialized care perfectly suited to my needs, that kept me and my baby safe. All of the staff had such big hearts.”
Managing chronic pain
“I remember one day my gynecologist-obstetrician talked to me about my pain. I didn’t feel like I could keep taking my medication while I was pregnant, but she said that letting me suffer was out of the question. She put me in touch with the CHUM’s Centre de gestion de la douleur.”
The specialty clinic saw Emmanuelle right away, and her anesthesiologist immediately tuned into her needs. She was also understanding of Emmanuelle’s desire not to take any risks with her baby.
“I felt like she really listened to me and was considerate and understanding. She looked all over to find the perfect treatment for me.”
A smooth delivery
When the day she’d been waiting for finally came, Emmanuelle was worried about her baby. They were going to have to use general anaesthesia for her C section. How would it affect her daughter? What if her child was suffering and didn’t have her mother there with her, awake to help?
To everyone’s delight, however, the babe was bubbly and in perfect health.
“It was all so blessedly quick. My gynecologist-obstetrician and my anesthesiologist worked together in perfect coordination to make sure my daughter wasn’t exposed to any anesthetics.”
While Emmanuelle was still asleep, the team decided to lay her baby on top of her for some skin-to-skin contact. They even moved her hand so it was resting gently on her child.
“Someone on the team—I don’t know exactly who—filmed it for me. I’ll cherish those images for the rest of my life. The video has helped me have fond memories of the birth. In my opinion, this is what the CHUM does best: innovating and doing whatever it takes to support patients.”
Emmanuelle is still receiving care from a number of CHUM teams, including the Centre de gestion de la douleur. Her quality of life has vastly improved, and she now has a wheelchair to help her manage her daily pain.
The care she received from the CHUM helped Emmanuelle become a mother. It’s going better than she ever thought possible.
“Nearly every morning, I get to play in the park with my daughter Alice. I leave my wheelchair behind and focus on just being a mom. And in a few months, my partner Martin and I are going to have a second child. We’re thrilled to be welcoming a new member to our cozy little family.”
Acting faster than disease means understanding what makes patients like Emmanuelle special, and treating them accordingly. It means putting people first. With your support, the CHUM is able to deliver every day on its desire to provide personalized, compassionate care.
