Mom Welcomes Baby After Cancerous Tumor Threatened Their Lives. Now She’s Looking Forward to Their First Christmas at Home

Mar. 15, 2025

MaKenna Lauterbach and son Colter.Photo:Courtesy of Northwestern Medicine

Courtesy of Northwestern Medicine

An Illinois mom is thankful as she looks forward to celebrating her first Christmas with her son — months after doctors discovered a cancerous tumor and performed an emergency cesarean section to save their lives.

MaKenna Lauterbach, of Washburn, was 26 years old and expecting her first child in December 2023 when she developed a nagging cough, according toNorthwestern Medicine.

She eventually went to the hospital, where doctors did imaging that revealed “a large, grapefruit-sized tumor in her middle chest cavity and right lung."

MaKenna Lauterbach with newborn son Colter.Courtesy of Northwestern Medicine

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According to Northwestern Medicine, doctors later diagnosed MaKenna with stage 3 melanoma. “The tumor was sitting on top of MaKenna’s heart and extended into the right lung,” said Dr. Kalvin Lung, who helped remove the growths in surgery.

The Illinois mom had her entire right lung removed, as well as and parts of the main pulmonary artery and lymph nodes.

Doctors believe MaKenna likely had a melanoma on her skin before the tumor developed inside her body.

MaKenna and Parker Lauterbach with their son Colter.Courtesy of Northwestern Medicine

Her current scans “show no evidence of metastatic melanoma,” according to Doctor Sunandana Chandra, a medical oncologist with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at the hospital.

“Medically, this is an amazing story with profound results,” Chandra said. “This type of outcome for our patients is what we always hope for.”

Dr. Chris Mehta, a cardiac surgeon with Northwestern Medicine, said tumors that invade major blood vessels of the heart are “extremely rare,” adding, “We may see something like this once every few years.”

Colter meets Santa in December 2024.Courtesy of Northwestern Medicine

Lauterbach is thankful for the doctors and the treatment she received from them. “Because of Northwestern Medicine, I’m here today,” she explained, later adding, “I can’t say enough about the wonderful medical team that saved my life. “

“I’m so grateful to have Colter and Parker in my life,” she remarked.

“It brings tears to my eyes to see MaKenna doing so well, and seeing Colter thriving is amazing," added Dr. Yee. “It just goes to show that when you get all the right medical teams in place, you can truly help families thrive.”

source: people.com