healthmedicinet

By
Sadie Whitelocks

PUBLISHED:

09:32 EST, 18 July 2013

|

UPDATED:

12:16 EST, 18 July 2013

After battling an aggressive form of ovarian cancer, Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller thought she would never be able to fall pregnant again.

But last month on June 25 she and her businessman husband, John Falconetti celebrated the birth of their first daughter, Sterling Diane.

Speaking for the first time since unexpectedly becoming mom for the second time Ms Miller, 36, told People magazine: ‘She is our miracle daughter. She is such a blessing.’

A blessing: After battling an aggressive form of ovarian cancer, Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller thought she would never be able to fall pregnant again – but she welcomed her second child last month

The seven-time Olympic medalist, who dominated her sport during the Nineties, was diagnosed with a malignant tumor on her left ovary in February 2011, just 14 months after welcoming her son, Rocco.

She had hoped to expand her family but was forced to put her baby plans ‘on hold indefinitely.’

‘Instead of calling my parents to tell them they had another grandchild on the way, I was calling to tell them I may have cancer . . . My world stopped,’ she said at the time.

The Florida-based, retired athlete underwent immediate surgery, but when doctors removed the baseball-sized cyst along with the ovary and fallopian tube, they discovered it was a higher-grade than originally thought.

‘Instead of calling my parents to tell
them they had another grandchild on the way, I was calling to tell them I had cancer’

In a bid to stop the cancer from spreading Ms Miller had nine weeks of intense chemotherapy which caused her signature frizzy hair to fall out.

She feared the drugs would affect her fertility however a year after finishing treatment she was surprised how quickly she conceived.

She had banked her eggs before the chemotherapy treatment but didn’t end up needing to use them.

Taking to her website to announce the happy news, she wrote: ‘I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to do some amazing things in my life, but being a mom is second to none.’

Proud new parents: Ms Miller with her businessman husband, John Falconetti

New sister: Ms Miller and her husband also have a three-and-a-half-year-old little boy named Rocco

She told People magazine that the past four years have been non-stop and she hasn’t ‘had a straight thought’.

‘I went from pregnancy brain to chemo brain to pregnancy brain.’

Now cancer-free, Missouri-born Ms Miller is on a quest to help others.

Previously speaking to ABC about contracting the disease, also known as the ‘silent killer’, she said: ‘I had absolutely no symptoms. That is why I am so passionate about talking to women about getting their exams as you don’t have to be feeling bad.

Side effects: As a result of chemotherapy Ms Miller’s signature frizzy hair fell out

‘I really want to help so many people. I want to scream from the rooftops to get regular screenings, early detection really does save lives. That has become a mantra for me.’

After retiring as a gymnast, she got a law degree and worked as a motivational speaker, though focused her career on exercise, nutrition and pregnancy on her website Shannon Miller Lifestyle.

She added: ‘Exercise has really helped me and there is a lot more research being done into the benefits of fitness during chemotherapy. But for me that was a no brainer and my body was craving it.

Olympic star: Ms Miller in action at the World Gymnastics Championships in 1988

‘A friend once said to me, “This cancer diagnosis is like being on the balance beam. You fall off. You get back up”. I knew how to be a fighter, I was that scrappy little kid from Oklahoma and I was gonna stay on that beam.’

During her sporting career Ms Miller won seven Olympic medals and nine at the world championships. She was also part of the ‘Magnificent Seven’, the only U.S. women’s gymnastics team to win Olympic gold.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 14,030 patients will die of the disease in the U.S. this year.

Share or comment on this article

• GRAPHIC CONTENT: Pensioner shoots dead black neighbor, 13

• Bill Maher booed for Zimmerman joke

• Korean woman filmed being abused in nightclub by westerners…

• Over 272,000 dominoes fall to set record

• CCTV footage shows moments before pregnant Olympian dies

• Chinese dance students perform ballet gymnastics display

• Air Force captain’s shocks family with scuba homecoming

• Beyonce to fan: Put that camera down and sing!

• Thrill seekers ride 1,300 ft high Grand Canyon Swing

• Some Red Neck Heaven skin at ‘Anything But Clothes’ party

• Students ‘dragged and hit by teacher’ for being naughty in…

• Brady in 2011: Hernandez ‘a lot to handle’

• Heavily pregnant former Olympian, 26, suddenly collapses and…

• How to undress for your husband: LIFE publishes step-by-step…

• From the courtroom to the silver screen: Scottish solicitor…

• Florida’s ‘First Lady’ of tax refund fraud gets 21 years in…

• ‘I’m his girlfriend’: Rev. Al Sharpton dating 35-year-old…

• Russia’s Bolshoi Theatre suffers new tragedy after violinist…

• If you like vanilla you’re impulsive but Rocky Road…

• Body of missing 2-year-old found by police a day after he…

• Revealed: The blonde New York Times journalist who is suing…

• Pictured: Moment Fijian soldier sits down when he meets the…

• Murdered by the mob or suicide? Victim of Whitey Bulger is…

• Norwegian woman who reported being raped in Dubai is jailed…

The comments below have not been moderated.

• 
  
  Newest
• 
  
  Oldest
• 
  
  Best rated
• 
  
  Worst rated

I heard that Shannon Miller was completely nuts. Her first husband disappeared, and then she had a some guy that claimed she used her celebrity to get him convicted as a stalker. Now she is married to some super rich Republican …………..Really crazy stories….Just Google her.

Where there is smoke there is some sort of fire.

–

Danii
,

New York,
18/7/2013 20:10

Report abuse

You use the words “tumour” and “cyst” to describe the structure this lady had removed along with her ovary and fallopian tube. These two terms are *not* interchangeable. Cysts are largely non-malignant and are usually – though not always – filled with fluid. I’m concerned that your incorrect reporting could lead women with gynaecological cysts to assume that this equals cancer, which is not the case.

–

Pigletta
,

Dorset,
18/7/2013 19:35

Report abuse

Oh my gosh, I had NO idea she had ovarian cancer as such a young age too! Congratulations to Shannon for not only beating cancer, but on the birth of another healthy baby after!!! Amazing woman, incredible spirit.

–

SnowWhite
,

Detroit, United States,
18/7/2013 18:47

Report abuse

Her signature “frizzy” hair??? Seriously??? You commend her for battling cancer and then insult her with the frizzy hair comment? Who writes this stuff?

–

Robin
,

Raleigh North Carolina, United States,
18/7/2013 18:24

Report abuse

Wow congrats. That’s wonderful news!

–

elizabeth
,

landofthefree,
18/7/2013 18:14

Report abuse

She had aggressive ovarian cancer and the surgeon didn’t remove both of her ovaries?

–

bluffer
,

Sacramento,
18/7/2013 18:10

Report abuse

So glad that she is cancer-free. May that continue forever. She WAS USA gymnastics in her prime.

–

azrdwill
,

Prescott,
18/7/2013 18:02

Report abuse

She used to be so pretty. what the hell happened.- Misfit , SoCal, 18/7/2013 17:19****The girl could have DIED, probably went thru hell with her treatments, and this is all you can come up with? Nice.

–

siobhan
,

none of your business, United States,
18/7/2013 18:02

Report abuse

I love this woman! She’s heroic in more ways than one. God bless!!

–

Justme
,

Windsor, United Kingdom,
18/7/2013 17:46

Report abuse

Actually, judging by the leotard she’s wearing and the lighting in the background of that last photo I’d say it was taken in 1993, perhaps at the World Championships in Birmingham. She was retired by 1998, DM, although she did attempt a comeback for the 2000 Olympics. AND the 1996 team has been joined by the 2012 team as the only US TEAMS to win the Olympic title. Considering that was last year and on your soil, could you please do a little research?

–

brie85
,

New England USA, United States,
18/7/2013 17:26

Report abuse

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.