By Eleanor Cade Busby
Jada Leung (left) arrives with fiance Ryan McKeagney and his mother, Cheryl Howe, at the community baby shower in Leung’s honor at Duck Puddle Campground in Nobleboro on July 27. (Eleanor Cade Busby photo) |
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Jada Leung arrives at the community baby shower in her honor on July 27. (Eleanor Cade Busby photo) |
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Sunday at Duck Puddle Campground, local businesses, friends, and strangers banded together to throw a baby shower Sunday for Jada Leung, Ryan McKeagney, and the twins they
expect.
The plight of Leung, now 35 weeks pregnant, came to the attention of Aubrey Martin when Martin read the story of Jada’s pregnancy and cancer diagnosis in The Lincoln County News. Martin rallied her group of friends and
business associates and recruited volunteers.
“There are some stories that really just grab you, and Jada’s was one of those for me,” Martin said. “I work for the March of Dimes, I am interested in healthy
babies and mothers, but mostly as a mother myself, I felt inspired to do something.”
Martin enlisted dozens of volunteers, including many families with children, to help with the planning. The idea was to raise funds to help the couple rather than
overwhelm them with things they might not be able to use, or have space for right now.
A donation was collected at the door with a maximum set so families could bring their kids. Collection of donations took place at Martin’s business, The Animal
House.
Raffle items, including fine jewelry, gift certificates, handmade items, art, and antiques were donated. Local businesses donated gifts, food, and services.
Strangers sent gift cards for the couple.
A potluck supper and cookout was organized. Donations of food arrived Sunday along with cooks to man the barbecue under the tent. Runners ducked between downpours to
get the hot food in to the guests.
Proceeds from the raffle, the admission, and a donation jar went directly to Leung and McKeagney.
In January, excited over her new pregnancy, Leung became ill with hyperemesis gravidarum. This is an intense kind of morning sickness of the same kind made famous
when Kate Middleton was hospitalized last year in Britain.
While Leung was hospitalized for treatment, the couple found out she was expecting not just one baby, but twins. She attempted to continue to work through morning
sickness that occurred sometimes 20 times a day and long past morning, but had to give up her job for the sake of her health.
McKeagney quickly learned to be a nurse, helping with the IV fluids she needed, and he balanced a 50-hour work week with his concern for his fiancée and expected
children.
The plan was that Leung would return to work once the hyperemesis eased off and they could plan for the future with their babies.
In February, Leung was diagnosed with breast cancer. McKeagney tried to continue working, but the physical and emotional toll was so great on Leung that he took
family medical leave from his job to care for her. When the leave ran out, the couple sold their car and moved in with Cheryl Howe, McKeagney’s mother.
Complicating an already devastating diagnosis of invasive ductile carcinoma and surgery to remove the cancer and five lymph nodes was the discovery that Leung has a
genetic mutation known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome.
This syndrome “greatly increases the risk of developing several types of cancer, particularly in children and young adults,” according to the National Institutes of
Health. A person of Leung’s age has an approximately 86 percent chance of getting another form of cancer in her lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Howe thinks she retired this year because she was meant to be available to help her son and his young family. “I am so glad to be able to help them and to offer them
a place to stay,” she said, “I’m very proud of Ryan and no one could ever have a better outlook than Jada; she has this smile that just lights up.”
Howe handles the details of paperwork and schedules in addition to transportation to the many appointments at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, New England Cancer
Specialists in Brunswick and Scarborough, and Maine Medical Center in Portland.
Sunday’s shower was attended by many people who had never met, or even expected to meet, Leung. With her continued chemotherapy and compromised immune system, Leung
has to limit contact with other people.
To the delight of the guests on Sunday, Leung and McKeagney were able to attend. “We were not sure until the last minute that Jada would be able to come,” Howe said.
“She had a tough day with chemotherapy reactions yesterday. She wanted to say thank you and this is one determined woman, so here she is.”
Leung was carefully watched by McKeagney among the crowd. She was delighted with the outpouring of love and support. “We are so happy to be in a community that has
such a big heart,” she said. “What a wonderful place to bring two new children to grow up.”
Leung has challenges ahead. Her physicians wanted her to have a double mastectomy, but she had delayed that. “Jada wants to hold her babies, and she would not have
time to recover enough if this happened now,” Howe said.
When the children are born, much of the care will fall to McKeagney and Howe. “Jada will not be allowed to change diapers because her immune system is compromised,”
McKeagney said. “She has at least a year of more treatments after the babies are born.”
Partygoers on Sunday were pleased to meet the ever-smiling Leung. “She has an amazing attitude and just exudes joy,” organizer Martin said. “I hope we can continue
to show this couple that this community is happy to help and will continue to do so.”
Howe was overwhelmed by the support shown Sunday. “Thank you for this tremendous emotional boost,” she said. “Next we will meet the babies, and then it will be time
to plan the wedding of her dreams for Jada. I am so proud that she will be part of my family forever.”
To assist in the ongoing fundraising for Leung, McKeagney, and the babies, visit http://www.gofundme.com/welovejada.
