Originally published in Charisma News
Even in the face of death, some individuals find strength in their faith that defies medical expectations and societal norms.
Tasha Kann, a courageous believer from Michigan, exemplifies this remarkable resilience. When faced with a dire diagnosis of an aggressive brain tumor while 20 weeks pregnant, she made a choice that left her doctors astounded and ultimately saved her life and her baby’s life: She refused to abort her child.
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Tasha Kann’s journey began in 2021 when she was struck by a severe headache, which she initially believed was a migraine. Little did she know that this seemingly ordinary headache would unveil a life-altering challenge.
As the pain intensified, she began experiencing tingling sensations in her arms and legs, ultimately losing the ability to move or stand. In a moment of fear and desperation, Tasha called 911, unknowingly embarking on a journey that would test the limits of her strength and faith.
A subsequent CT scan at the hospital revealed a daunting reality—a large brain mass. The diagnosis was anaplastic astrocytoma grade 3, an aggressive and rare malignant tumor. Facing this daunting news, Tasha Kann’s unwavering faith began to shine through.
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Amid the confusion and fear, Kann stood firm in her conviction to protect the life growing within her.
Doctors told her, “We recommend that you get an abortion,” so Kann could immediately commence chemotherapy and radiation for the brain tumor.
Her response? “Absolutely not.”
Her bold dedication to Christ played a central role in her decision-making process, firmly aligning her actions with her beliefs.
“Aborting my baby was never an option to me because it goes against God’s will,” Tasha told Fox News Digital. “I had many deep conversations with Jesus that week in the hospital, and knew that if I held onto the Lord and His promises, He would keep my baby safe.
“I was a little scared, but I never lost hope,” she said. “I knew I had to be strong for my baby.”
Kann’s became determined to preserve her child’s life no matter what. She understood that the path she had chosen would not be easy, but her faith provided her with the strength to persevere. Even as her medical scans remained stable during the remainder of her pregnancy, she was frustrated by the continued recommendations of abortion.
She firmly believed that terminating her pregnancy would not have saved her if her cancer was as advanced as they claimed.
A hospice nurse, Kann had witnessed firsthand the physical and emotional toll chemotherapy and radiation took on patients. She was well aware that these treatments did not always guarantee survival.
She recalls a moment when three doctors entered her hospital room and stood at the foot of her bed.
“They all looked at me and told me my best chances of survival would be to get an abortion and start treatment immediately—which might give me five to eight years of survival,” she says.
With her faith as her guide, Kann decided to pursue alternative approaches to fighting her cancer. She delved into holistic methods, making dietary changes, engaging in light physical activity and taking supplements.
Dr Kecia Gaither, director of perinatal services and maternal-fetal medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx, New York, noted that chemotherapy generally can be given depending on the type of cancer, location, grade and stage of the pregnancy.
“Pregnancy termination in a woman with a central nervous system malignancy may necessarily be a choice pending the clinical situation,” Gaither told Fox News Digital.
Against all odds, Kann gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Gracey in October 2022. At that moment, according to medical predictions, she had roughly eight months left to live. More than a year after her diagnosis — defying the doctors’ predictions — she is still alive.
Looking at her beautiful baby, she reflected on the enormity of the decision she had made.
“Every single day, I look at my beautiful baby and think about how easy it was for them to tell me to abort—like she was nothing,” she says. “If I had listened, my baby wouldn’t be here. It’s a miracle from God that we are both here.”
The Kann family received a devastating setback this summer with the news that the cancer had spread. It is now classified as gliomatosis cerebri, a highly aggressive tumor that affects the central nervous system and lobes of the brain. Treatment options for this type of cancer are limited.
The family could not find an oncologist in Michigan, so they travel to Texas every couple of weeks. The immunotherapy treatments Kann undergoes are very expensive, to the tune of $17,000 per month.
Her family members set up a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised more than $92,000. The total costs of her treatments will exceed $200,000.
But Kann says she will keep fighting and “walk by faith” while focusing on raising her two young children.
“The oncologist said she doesn’t know how it’s possible I’m still alive,” she says. “How can there by any other answer than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?”
Evangelist Franklin Graham said this on Facebook about Kahn:
“Tasha Kann said that the only thing she ever wanted to be in life was a mom. She was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer in 2022 when she was 20 weeks pregnant, and the doctors immediately recommended that she have an abortion and undergo chemo and radiation. Tasha spent a lot of time in prayer, and said absolutely no to an abortion—she said, ‘Killing my baby wouldn’t have saved me.’
“Her healthy baby girl named Gracey was born in October 2022, joining the couple’s 2-year-old son Deklan. When her oncologist said she didn’t know how Tasha could still be alive, Tasha said, “How can there be any other answer than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? I will continue to follow and pray, give thanks and worship, as long as I’m living.” I love Tasha’s strong testimony and her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. She needs our prayers. Would you join me in praying for her?”
Faith, as we are reminded in the Bible, can move mountains, and that is what the Kann family is counting on.
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