New Mom, San Francisco Pregnancy Center Director Battling Stage IV Cancer

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Just months after giving birth to a daughter, Chastidy Ronan, an executive director of a pregnancy help medical clinic in San Francisco, was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in late July.

Friends of Ronan, who has served with Alpha Pregnancy Center since 2008, have set up a GoFundMe.com page to raise support for Chastidy, her husband, Matthew, and their newborn daughter, Catica (KAH-tee-tsa).

Launched July 22, the GoFundMe.com page, “Chastidy’s Cheerleaders,” has raised over $3,900 of a $15,000 goal as of mid-afternoon Aug. 3.

“Symptoms that [Chastidy] had related to pregnancy discomforts and a traumatic delivery, and then new-mom fatigue were actually subtle signs of cancer,” Kellie Sheets, the page’s organizer, wrote. “At a time when she should be able spend her days cuddling her beautiful baby, she will be coping with chemotherapy and fighting for her life.”

Tweet This: New mom, #pregnancyhelp center director battling stage 4 cancer. #SanFrancisco #prolife #GoFundMe

Ronan and her husband relocated to San Francisco from Cincinnati back in 2006, and sought out help at Alpha Pregnancy Center, located on Mission St. near Balboa Park.

Within two years, she was involved with the center as a peer counselor, before taking on executive director responsibilities in August of 2009.

“My best friend exudes the most wonderful combination of strength and peace,” Sheets wrote. “She's a beautiful melding of stubborn intensity and flexible willingness to grow. So it won't surprise you that she is preparing her heart and her body to take this on.

“She told me this isn't a diagnosis—this is a battle, and she is determined to fight.”

You can give to support the Ronan family at the “Chastidy’s Cheerleaders” GoFundMe.com page.