Mother Dies of Cancer to Save Life of Her Unborn Child

By Gudrun Schultz

CLEVELAND, Ohio, December 13, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A mother who developed cancer while pregnant with her fourth child has died after refusing treatment that would have harmed the baby.

In a sacrifice reminiscent of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, who died of cancer in 1962 after deciding to protect the life of her unborn baby, Bernadette Mimura chose to save her child’s life at the cost of her own. She delivered a healthy son, Nathan, two months premature, and lived long enough to witness his baptism.

Mimura selflessly refused to consider treatment for her condition which would have harmed her unborn child, even though such treatment is permitted according to Catholic teaching.

“Being a Catholic, abortion was out of the question for her,” her partner Adam Taylor said. “It was a tough decision, but we could not give up on Nathan.” (Telegraph Group Limited)

Born in Milan in 1922, Gianna Beretta was a pediatric doctor, mother of three children and pregnant with her fourth when she discovered she had cancer. A faithful Roman Catholic, she offered her life for the safety of her child. She died a week after the birth of the baby, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994, during the international Year of the Family.

To learn more about St. Gianna Beretta Molla, see:

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20040516_beretta-molla_en.html

http://www.saintgianna.org/