Sixteen years ago what Debra Limbach thought would be a “normal” pregnancy and delivery was anything but that. She needed an emergency C-Section due to toxemia, a pregnancy complication whose only cure is to deliver the baby no matter the length of the term. Thankfully, she successfully delivered her newborn son, Matthew, but became fearful when he presented with a fever. The doctors placed him in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. Luckily his condition didn’t worsen and his stay in the NICU was short-lived. Debra and Kurt Limbach were grateful that their firstborn received such skilled and loving attention from the Magee physicians and nurses. Their care insured Matthew a healthy start in life despite his mother’s difficult pregnancy.
In 2005 Debra went to her annual gynecological exam and her Pap smear results indicated a problem. After further testing, Robert Thomas, MD, a Magee specialist in obstetrics and gynecology, diagnosed Debra with lymphoma of the cervix.
Her condition, diffused large cell B, is extremely rare, but Joseph L. Kelley, MD, one of Magee’s well-known gynecological oncology physicians, had come across this cancer before and was successful in helping Debra become cancer-free.
 Debra’s sister-in-law, Elsa, on the other hand, had always been interested in women’s health issues. When Debra was diagnosed, Elsa wondered, “What else could I do for Debra? She did not need another pair of shoes or a purse. What she wanted most was increased research into her condition.” Over the years Elsa has made donations in honor of Debra to help support women’s gynecological cancer research at Magee-Womens Research Institute.
To the right: Debra and sister-in-law Elsa, have utilized their strong bond in supporting women's gynecological cancer research at Magee.
According to Debra, “Having donations made in my honor is indeed a great gift and makes me feel special. More importantly, I know that in a small way we are helping other women and their families who are dealing with this awful disease.”
Today Debra and her family reside in the South Hills and she helps her husband out with his business, is a PTA mom and is extremely busy with Matthew’s activities. Recently, the Limbachs traveled to Costa Rica for a surfing camp.
Matthew, now 16, attends Shadyside Academy. He’s involved in three sports including soccer, wrestling and baseball and also volunteers for the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania. On top of that, he plays the saxophone for the school’s jazz band.
“What’s been so important to me is the care of Dr. Thomas. He directed me down the right path when dealing with my rare illness. When I asked him for his opinion, he began by saying ‘If you were my wife, this is what I would tell you to do…’,” states Debra. “I was so confident in his care and I thank him for potentially saving my life.”
After Debra’s troublesome pregnancy and her battle with cancer, she has nothing but great things to say about the care she received at Magee. Her sister, Elsa, has been everything but selfish when it came to her sister-in-law’s condition. A sisterly bond can be strong enough to support a great cause – in this case, women’s gynecological research. This advantageous bond keeps getting stronger every day.
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OUR COMMITMENT TO: Women's Cancers
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