She had spent seven years working as a fashion model
all over the world, posing for publications such Cosmopolitan and
Harper’s Bazaar. But suddenly Elizaveta Bulokhova, 25, noticed an
inflammation on her jaw which became more and more painful. Biopsies
showed: she had jaw osteosarcoma – a cancer which attacks the bone.
At the same time the Latvian-born model , who lives in Ontario,
Canada, and her boyfriend Roman Troubetskoi had the joyful news that she
was pregnant with a baby boy.
“My first surgery lasted 16 hours, with more follow up
surgeries in the next several days. Surgeons used a fibula bone from my
right leg, and nerve and skin tissue harvested from leg, arm, hip and
shoulder to perform reconstructive surgery on my jaw.”
“I had to relearn how to walk. For 10 weeks my mouth was
wired shut, and I was eating through a tube in my nose. I couldn’t talk
and couldn’t brush my teeth. I had tubes coming out all over my body.”
Despite the doctors recommend an abortion, her son, Valentin was born
via cesarean section, 10 weeks premature. It was real wonder!
“He was very active and I would talk to him often while he
was in my womb. I had to tell him to stop moving because I couldn’t keep
him and then all of a sudden he did. He listened; he stopped moving. I
just told myself whatever the universe has in store for me I will accept
it. If my baby is meant to be born, he will be born.”
One week later, she began her first cycle of chemotherapy.
After her treatment she bravely posed for the camera.
She wears colorful makeup and exposes the her scars from the traumatic illness.
“I think they are pretty awesome, and my surgeon did amazing job, they look like an art to me.”
The young model is asking people inspired by her story to donate to cancer charities in their countries.
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