Women toss their bras during the 5th Pink Bra Spring and Bra Toss and help Push Up the Fight Against Breast Cancer at the Trocadero Square near the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Women toss their bras during the 5th Pink Bra Spring and Bra Toss and help Push Up the Fight Against Breast Cancer event at the Trocadero Square near the Eiffel Tower in Paris March 16, 2014. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Terminally-ill Australian mother, Michelle Buccholtz, forcefully delivered a premature baby at 29 weeks because the doctors were afraid that her body, which was affected by cancer, could not handle a full-term pregnancy. For the purpose of trying to prolong her own life, she decided to give birth prematurely.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Alex Ansalone, her fiance, has taken to fundraising to raise money for alternative and mainstream treatments for Michelle as well as for their daughter's, Ava, future. The crowd-funding Web site called MyCause has helped the couple raise a sum of almost AU$149,500 with people donating as little as $10 to a maximum of $1,000.

On Nov 14, baby Ava held on to her mother's cheek after being stabilised. Michelle said that she felt mixed emotions. She also said that it was difficult to be happy about the decision initially. She went on to say that when they put Ava on her chest, everything sank away. She said that Ava is a beautiful baby and that initially, she was crying a bit, but later, the presence of Michelle soothed her.

Ava was born through a caesarean procedure at Melbourne's Royal Women's Hospital, weighing just 1053 grams and 37 centimetres in length. The staff at the hospital, as well as Michelle's family, wept after Ava was born.

Initially, before Ava was born, Michele and Alex had lost two other babies. During one of the miscarriages, Michelle was fighting stage-four of breast cancer. Ava's birth was a dream that came true for the couple. When she was expecting Ava, she found out that her cancer had returned and spread to her neck, pelvis, hip and thigh.

The birth and first few moments of Ava with Michelle were captured on video, so that Ava could see it when she grows up. In addition to the video, Michelle has written letters for her daughter to read.

Michelle currently has a neck brace on due to fractures caused by her tumours. When Ava is put on Michelle's chest, she needs a mirror to look at her face because of the brace.