Melbourne mum Taylor Johnston from Mornington Peninsula tragically dies after IVF battle

A Melbourne mother whose life took a devastating turn when she learned she had terminal cancer shortly after the birth of her newborn baby has died.

Taylor Johnston, 29, died Monday, about four months after the birth of her first child, Billie Mae.

Taylor, from Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, was diagnosed with cervical cancer 10 days after giving birth.

That diagnosis was later upgraded to terminal bone marrow cancer.

In an update on the family’s online fundraising page, a loved one said: “On September 18, our beloved Taylor was given her angel wings and is now watching over us.”

Tributes have poured in from loved ones, who remember Taylor as a bright and unique young woman.

Another beautiful soul taken far too soon. Rest in peace Taylor Johnston, your eternal smile, infectious energy and kind spirit will live on,” one person said.

‘What terrible and heartbreaking news.’

Another said: ‘My beautiful, beautiful Tay, you were the sunshine, you were everything at once.’

‘You had a lightness about you that no one will ever replace. My heart breaks for your little girl and the man of your dreams. My heart is broken.’

A third said: ‘My heart is so heavy. Tay, my beautiful best friend. The sunshine in our lives has left me at a loss for words.

“This world is so cruel to get you, but I know you can rest easy now. I love you. I will miss you every day.’

The Rye Netball club, which Ms Johnston played for, also released a short statement about the tragic death.

“The Rye Football Netball Club is heartbroken to hear of the passing of one of our most loved netballers, Taylor Johnston, after a short but courageous battle with cancer,” the tribute said.

“Taylor was loved by everyone she met and shared the court or the dance floor with her.”

‘A spirited and determined defender on the pitch and player for Rye for the past seven years. It was Taylor’s friendly and positive personality that made her the ultimate teammate and friend.”

“Together we will always remember and honor Taylor and the remarkable impact she had on all who were fortunate enough to meet her. She was the life of the party, always kind, and her laugh was infectious.”

Ms Johnston gave birth to her daughter and firstborn Billie Mae in May, leading to the discovery of a cancerous tumor

Tributes have been paid to Mrs Johnston (pictured with husband Jesse), who is remembered for her ‘infectious energy and friendly spirit’

Mrs Johnston had battled fertility problems with her husband Jesse for years and the couple eventually turned to IVF treatment, which was successful.

On May 19, after a marathon 25 hours of labor, she finally gave birth to her miracle baby Billie Mae.

But during the ‘scary’ ordeal, which ended in an emergency caesarean section and the loss of 1.7 liters of blood, midwives discovered a polyp in her cervix.

The couple’s joy at the birth of their daughter was short-lived when test results revealed cervical cancer just ten days later.

The devastating diagnosis would only get worse after a series of MRI tests and PET scans showed the disease had also spread to her bone marrow.

“Not just any cancer, this is potentially terminal,” Johnston’s sister, Lani Dorning, wrote in the newspaper GoFundMe page she created for the struggling young Victorian family.

‘Their world stood still. Broken, heartbroken, shattered, numb. The air is sucked from your lungs. You can’t breathe.’

Mr Johnston could no longer work as a carpenter as he cared for his newborn baby and his wife underwent grueling treatment.

“She can’t have her baby by her side overnight while she undergoes chemotherapy,” Ms Dorning said.

‘Every mother’s worst nightmare. Just to hold her during the night. To smell her.. To feel her. The unknown.’

Due to the severity of her case, long-term tests to find out where the cancer had originated had been left aside for immediate chemotherapy.

The GoFundMe in support of Jesse and Billie Mae can be found here.