Ovarian cancer survivor celebrates twins’ 1st birthday

Jeong Ji‑young, second from right, smiles during the first birthday party for her twins at Daegu CHA Fertility Center in Daegu, Jan. 20. Courtesy of Daegu CHA Fertility Center

A medical center that helped make a long‑awaited pregnancy possible became the venue for a remarkable first birthday celebration this month.

On Jan. 20, medical workers at Daegu CHA Fertility Center, located in central Daegu, hosted a “doljanchi” — a traditional first birthday celebration — for twins Kim Min-jeong and Kim Min-seo. The children were born to Jeong Ji-young, 30, who had overcome Stage 4 ovarian cancer.

Jeong was diagnosed in 2016 at age 21, and underwent extensive surgery and chemotherapy, losing her right ovary in the process. Doctors were able to preserve her left ovary and uterus, however, leaving open the possibility that she might one day become a mother.

Years later, she sought help at the fertility center. Through in vitro fertilization, she became pregnant with twins in 2024, conceiving on her second IVF attempt. The successful delivery of a healthy boy and girl was hailed by her medical team as a hard‑won victory over both a life‑threatening cancer and subfertility.

“After recovering from ovarian cancer and overcoming subfertility, it is more meaningful not only to achieve pregnancy, but to see the babies born and to share this moment of their first birthday together,” said Lee Kwang, her primary physician there.

Jeong expressed her gratitude to the medical staff who helped make the event a special day for her and her children.

“Through this first birthday celebration, I was once again reminded that our children were born thanks to so many caring hands and hearts,” she said. “With not only the doctors but also the nurses and researchers joining us here, it feels like this will be a precious memory our family will cherish for the rest of our lives.”