'Daytime cuddles whenever we like': Mum-of-seven, 30, with terminal breast cancer is grateful for time in lockdown as she's been able to spend precious time with her children
- Alisha Salih, 30, has been enjoying life in isolation with her seven children
- Sydney-based mother was told she had cancer when she was 32 weeks pregnant
- The brave woman, who is still getting chemotherapy, has a max of 15 years to live
- Her fiancé Metin proposed at her incredible 30th birthday party in May 2019
- On November 30 they pushed forward their wedding and tied the knot
- Now they are living each day to the fullest, even during the COVID-19 pandemic
Alisha Salih with her seven children
A mother-of-seven with terminal breast cancer has written a heartwarming post about how grateful she is for the coronavirus lockdown, saying that it has allowed her to spend 'more time with her babies'.
Alisha Salih was 32 weeks pregnant with her youngest son Isaac in 2017 when she was diagnosed with stage four cancer and had a mastectomy, with doctors telling the heartbroken tribe she would have a maximum of 15 years left to live.
Instead of despairing, the Sydney-based mother wrote a bucket list of things she wanted to achieve in that time, including marrying her long-time soulmate Metin Salih in front of their blended family - which she did on November 30, 2019.
'The silver lining to the current isolation situation is spending time with our babies,' Aisha wrote on Instagram.
'Day time cuddles whenever we like, being able to teach one another many things through home schooling.
'Never in my life did I think this would be our current situation but I am enjoying the kids showing me just how clever they are and me being able to work with them to help improve areas that they are not academically confident in.'
At the beginning of May she decided to host a 'cooking week' with the children, so that when they finished their school work and a quick 'F45-style workout' together they would all learn to prepare a meal in the kitchen.
Scroll down for video
At the beginning of May she decided to host a 'cooking week' with the children, so that when they finished their school work and a quick 'F45-style workout' together they would all learn to prepare a meal in the kitchen
'I am absolutely loving being able to do both the educational teaching and life skills training with my babies,' she said
'I'm teaching them to make everything from scratch. Tonight we had a Turkish dinner that the girls helped make, including the dough, red pepper paste, yoghurt sauce and the filling,' Alisha said.
'Yesterday the older girls also made their siblings cupcakes with no assistance from me at all.
'I am absolutely loving being able to do both the educational teaching and life skills training with my babies.'
Photos of the children sitting around the kitchen table learning, preparing 'school lunches' and cooking fill proud mum Alisha's social media pages.
Both Alisha and her partner Metin have three kids each and formed a large family together.
Metin was a single dad with three girls and Alisha was a single mum with two boys and one girl before they met.
Alisha celebrated her 30th birthday on May 23, 2019, only to be surprised by an elaborate proposal from Metin, who knelt down on one knee while she was blindfolded
Alisha Salih married her soul mate Metin in Sydney on November 30 in front of their blended family of seven children (not pictured is their youngest Isaac)
Alisha and Metin exchanged vows in front of close family and friends before releasing a collection of white doves into the sky
Alisha's four girls, one of which is hers biologically, became her bridal party on the day
The stoic mother is still having chemotherapy treatments every three weeks to keep her illness at bay but there has been no change to her overall condition.
Alisha celebrated her 30th birthday on May 23, 2019, only to be surprised by an elaborate proposal from Metin, who knelt down on one knee while she was blindfolded.
They tied the knot six months later in an intimate ceremony, with their children serving as bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Alisha gifted the four girls a wedding garter each that was identical to her own and the boys cufflinks that read 'With you always, love you Mum' to be worn during their own nuptials - in the event she wouldn't be there to witness them.
Share this article
Her wedding planner, Antoinette Bakhos, had volunteered to piece the day together for the happy couple
Alisha gifted the four girls a wedding garter each that was identical to her own and the boys cufflinks that read 'With you always, love you Mum' to be worn during their own nuptials
'Although I will do everything I can to be here to watch them all marry, statistics say I won't be,' she wrote on Instagram
Alisha found out she had advanced breast cancer while 32 weeks pregnant with the couple's youngest son Isaac in 2017.
She noticed a lump on her nipple that was initially diagnosed as an abscess caused by a bacterial infection - but it grew back so she decided to have a biopsy.
This took place on December 19, 2017, and by December 21, four days before Christmas, Alisha was devastated to be told that the lump she had was breast cancer.
Alisha had to handle this news with a surge of pregnancy hormones and six kids all under the age of 11.
Alisha found out she had advanced breast cancer while 32 weeks pregnant with Isaac in 2017 (pictured here while pregnant)
Alisha had to handle this news with a surge of pregnancy hormones and six kids all under the age of 11
At the forefront of her mind was keeping her latest addition to the family as safe and healthy as possible
After being together for four years and sharing their six children Alisha and Metin decided they wanted another child, but it wasn't an easy task. They tried countless times to get pregnant before being told Alisha was likely infertile.
'It wasn't smooth sailing. There was complication after complication with the pregnancy and always fear that the baby wouldn't make it,' friends who set up the family's GoFundMe said.
'She became a priority at the hospital undergoing continuous monitoring. The pregnancy began to stabilise at around 26 weeks and she was now enjoying this precious moment. She was happy.'
Isaac's delivery had to be moved forward because chemotherapy had to start as soon as possible
It was at this moment Alisha noticed something unusual on her breast and her whole world changed.
At 33 weeks Alisha underwent a mastectomy with every precaution to keep the baby safe.
She had two weeks to heal before going back under the knife for a caesarean at 35 weeks for the birth of her boy.
Chemotherapy began three weeks after.
'Beautiful baby Isaac was born on February 8, 2019. With the challenges of six kids, now seven, raising a newborn and trying to manage your health, you would think that would be enough,' the GoFundMe continued.
'The cancer is stage four and has become metastatic and spread to her liver. Basically it's the end of the line and 90 per cent of metastatic cancers end in death.
'Doctors don't have definitive answers as to how long she has left but the goal now is to prolong her life with ongoing treatment.'
'Beautiful baby Isaac was born on February 8, 2019. With the challenges of six kids, now seven, raising a newborn and trying to manage your health, you would think that would be enough,' the GoFundMe said
Alisha's prognosis is unknown - but she is hopeful with the right treatment she could live as long as 15 years
Alisha's bucket list, which she created after learning of the fatal diagnosis, is filled with promising adventures, which include riding horses with the children, teaching them life skills and travelling along the Great Ocean Road.
While Alisha's prognosis is unknown she is hopeful with the right treatment she could live as long as 15 years.
You can donate to Alisha and her family and help her live out her dreams on her GoFundMe.
- www.gofundme.com...
- My breast cancer story. Alisha has stage four breast cancer, and 7 kids.
- The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) on Twitter
- Phao Photography
- Alishas_breastcancer_journey on Instagram: “The silver lining to the current Isolation situation, spending time with our babies. Day time cuddles when ever we like, being able to…�
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
