In a heartwarming revelation on International Women’s Day, Deiondra Sanders shared wonderful news. The daughter of esteemed football coach Deion Sanders, took to Instagram to share she is expecting a baby with singer Jacquees. The announcement included the revelation that the pregnancy was both unplanned and a surprising turn in a years long battle with uterine fibroids.
Sanders’ candid post offered a glimpse into her path toward this new chapter. Despite the challenges she’s faced, Sanders remained steadfast in her resolve to embrace motherhood.
Sanders Myomectamy Procedures and Fibroids
The journey to conception was far from conventional for Sanders. In fact, she says medical professionals told her she would not be able to conceive. Sanders says she has undergone four myomectomy surgeries. The procedure is done to remove uterine fibroids while preserving the uterus. Despite the surgeries, Sanders explained that she still has seven fibroids surrounding her uterus.
The mother-to-be also detailed her other pregnancy complications including prolonged bleeding.
“I’m having my baby for all the Doctors that told me I wouldn’t make it out the first trimester,” she wrote. “I’m having a baby for all the high risk moms that was scared everyday thinking they would miscarry. I’m keeping my baby for the 3 Months I continued to bleed everyday after I found out I was pregnant. I’m having this baby to give hope to all the other women that may be in my situation.”
Black Women and Fibroids
Her message resonated with women facing similar struggles, offering solace and hope amid uncertainty. Sanders’ story sheds light on the often-overlooked issue of uterine fibroids, particularly among Black women. According to the National Library of Medicine, Black women are disproportionately affected by fibroids. They experience more severe symptoms and complications than other ethnic groups.
Fibroids, non-cancerous growths in the uterus, can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life. It can cause symptoms ranging from heavy menstrual bleeding to pelvic pain. Despite their prevalence, fibroids remain shrouded in misconceptions and disparities in healthcare access and treatment options.
Dr. Pierre Johnson a renowned OB-GYN known as the “fibroid slayer,” emphasizes the importance of advocacy and empowerment in addressing fibroid-related challenges. In a recent interview with 21Ninety, Johnson discussed the medical racism that disproportionately impacts Black women, particularly in the realm of fibroid treatment.
“Fibroids overall do decrease the rate of fertility, so if you take 1000 women with fibroids and 1000 women without, you’ll have a much higher yield of women getting pregnant in the group without fibroids,” he stated.