Thouhida Chowdhury, 29, known as Tia, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer during her second trimester — her four-week-old daughter Isabella will only be two years old when she loses her mum
A mum-to-be was handed a devastating three-year life expectancy while 14 weeks into her pregnancy.
Thouhida Chowdhury, 29, received the terminal lung cancer diagnosis during her second trimester, and tragically her four-week-old daughter will likely never know her mother beyond toddlerhood.
The family are now racing against time to create precious memories together over the coming 24 months while they’re able. Thouhida, who goes by Tia, hails from Liverpool city centre, and her 29 year old husband Lewis, whom she met at work a “long time” ago, had envisioned building an idyllic future together.
Their dreams were simple: two children, a home of their own, and marriage. When news arrived that Tia was expecting Isabella, the pair were “beyond happy”.
In conversation with the ECHO, Tia recalled: “Isabella is our first daughter, we were only just starting our journey together as a family. We wanted a normal, average life, we had it all planned. We were so excited when we found out we were pregnant. It was November [last year] we found out.”
At that point, Tia had been battling what she’d presumed was a chest infection. She’d been prescribed multiple courses of antibiotics over roughly six months, yet her condition continued to deteriorate, reports the Liverpool Echo.
During her final round of antibiotics, Tia’s mum spotted her daughter’s complexion “turning blue” while they shared dinner and rushed her immediately to A&E. Tia would remain at the Royal Liverpool Hospital for the following five months.
She said: “I was told I had cancer a few days after being taken to the Royal. I had a CT scan which showed my lymph nodes were all inflamed and my left lung had collapsed. At first doctors said it could either be TB or cancer, at that moment we just knew it was cancer. It was so worrying, we were hopeful, but deep-down we knew.”
Tia was booked in for a biopsy and within days received the devastating confirmation of lung cancer. She said: “I asked for my prognosis and the oncologist told me I had two to three years. My whole world felt like it fell apart in that moment. We found out it was a disease that I was going to die from.”
She added: “We were told it was untreatable but there’s chemo that could slow it down, without the chemo they said I’d have eight to 12 months. I remember feeling numb and asking a lot of questions. Then, it was like a dam, I started crying and didn’t stop for hours.
“My husband wasn’t there for at the appointment with me, so I then had to face telling him, and my parents, and all the other people that love me that I’m going to die in a couple of years.”
At just 14 weeks pregnant when her world came crashing down, Tia said: “What should have been the happiest time of my life was shattered. I had been told that I wouldn’t watch my daughter grow older, I wouldn’t see her first day of school, I wouldn’t be there for her first breakup, her wedding and everything else.
“It was like someone was playing a joke on me. We had a very different life planned out. We wanted to buy a house, we had plans to move back to Cheshire, where I’m originally from, so Isabella could have a rural upbringing like I had. Now, all these things can’t happen, I can’t even get a mortgage with cancer and I only have two years with my child.
“My biggest fear is her not remembering me; remembering my voice, my touch, she will only be two years old when she loses me. We’re making her a scrapbook and taking pictures of everything and everyone so she has these memories to keep. I’ve also written her letters to open when shes 16, 18, and when she gets married.”
While Tia underwent chemotherapy treatment in hospital during June, Isabella arrived prematurely at 30 weeks and continues her stay in the Neonatal Unit, “growing stronger every day.”
Following more than five months as an inpatient, Tia has since been discharged from hospital. She reflected: “I feel like I’ve already put my child through so much, I feel like the worst mother ever. I couldn’t even paint her nursery or build her cot because I was stuck in hospital.”
The unforeseen pregnancy coupled with the cancer diagnosis has drained the young couple’s savings on expenses they never anticipated facing at merely 29 years of age. Lewis has been forced to take on additional employment to support his wife and daughter, meaning precious time with his terminally ill partner has been significantly reduced.
The family are hoping to raise funds to cover essential costs for making their home more accessible and covering hospital travel expenses.
Tia explained: “My whole life is upside down, I used to be such an independent woman and now I’m not even being able to go to Tesco by myself. I don’t want my daughter to remember me like this, I want to make memories and make our life as normal and good as possible.
“I’ve already had to have my baby shower and registered our marriage in hospital, it’s important after five months that I can now spend time at home with my family before we’re out of time.”
Those wishing to support Tia and Lewis can contribute to their online fundraiser, which aims to help create precious memories with Isabella.
Meanwhile, their relatives, who operate Tess Riley’s in Liverpool city centre, have organised a special fundraising evening to generate additional support. The event is scheduled for August 19, kicking off at 3pm.
Entry costs £10, with all proceeds going directly to Lewis, Tia and Isabella.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login