A woman says she's "grateful" for her cancer diagnosis after it led to her finding the love of her life - and now the pair have had their first child. Monika Kozlowska, 33, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in January 2020 and says she felt "alone, anxious" and "worried about dying".
The business coach was living alone in the UK while her entire family was based more than 1,000 miles away in Warsaw, Poland. Having mistakenly assumed her enlarged thyroid was down to Hashimoto's Disease - an immune system disorder she'd suffered with since she was a teen - a routine check-up showed she actually had cancer.
Despite an "awful" six months - Monika ended up meeting her long-term partner, Andy, 46, a content designer, on dating app Hinge - shortly before the first Covid lockdown in March 2020. She had just undergone a thyroidectomy - surgery in which the thyroid is removed - and was "constantly going to doctors' appointments".
The procedure left her feeling "very down" and incredibly lonely, as she was left to recuperate on her own. By August 2020 they became official - just as Monika received the all-clear from thyroid cancer. The couple welcomed their son, Henry, one, together in May 2021, weighing 7lbs and Monika has now been cancer-free for two years.
Monika said: "My diagnosis made me think 'what if this is it? What if this is all my life would ever be about?'
“I realised I had a life that looked great on paper, but that was it. I knew I could have so much more if I found someone to share it with.
“I needed to get over my fear of feeling less worthy and I worked really hard on my personal development as well as my physical. This really helped get me through the swiping (on the dating app).”
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After everything she’d gone through, Monika worried her "body wouldn’t be capable of growing a human being" - so she was "shocked" when she fell pregnant just a month after making things official with Andy.
“I was losing so, so, much hair at the time due to hormonal changes and as a result of the surgery. But there it was - a positive pregnancy test," she said.
“Everyone was so surprised - including my doctor. But we were very happy. It felt like this was meant to be. I have a great life, I’m here and alive and loving every minute. Henry is happy and healthy. I’m just grateful."
Monika's cancer is currently in remission, but she says the thought of it returning is "anxiety-inducing" as a new mother.
"I do get anxiety over the thyroid cancer coming back," Monika, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, said. "I have to get my neck scanned once a year and have blood taken every three months.
"A doctor even told me, if I were to ever get pregnant again, I’d need a blood test every two weeks until 20 weeks. It's a lot.
"All my experiences over the last three years have taught me so much. I don’t feel alone anymore and I’m living a life that feels so much more meaningful."
To find out more about Monika's journey, visit her website Monikakozlowska.com
