Olivia Munn bravely shares her journey of freezing her eggs amidst her battle with breast cancer, offering a candid glimpse into her decisions and experiences.
In a recent interview with Vogue, the 43-year-old X-Men: Apocalypse actress revealed that she opted to freeze her eggs on three separate occasions: first at 33, then at 39, and most recently at 42 following her breast cancer diagnosis.
Reflecting on the process, Munn disclosed, "It's interesting because my 33-year-old eggs were great. My 39-year-old eggs? None of them worked. As you get older, one month can have great eggs, the other not so much."
Following her diagnosis, Munn and her partner, comedian John Mulaney, discussed their desire to expand their family. However, uncertainty loomed due to the potential impact of breast cancer treatments on her fertility. The actress shared, "We don't feel like we're done growing our family, but didn't know if I would have to do chemotherapy or radiation."
Acknowledging the risks involved, Munn and Mulaney made the difficult decision to proceed with one final round of egg retrieval before commencing aggressive cancer treatment. Despite the inherent dangers, they pursued the retrieval in hopes of securing viable eggs for future family planning.
“We just wanted a few more eggs,” Munn expressed. “At my age, one in every 10 eggs are healthy, and we were hoping to make one embryo from this retrieval.”
However, the process yielded only seven eggs instead of the anticipated 10. Now, Munn and Mulaney face the anxious wait to determine if any of the collected eggs will result in the creation of a healthy embryo, underscoring the emotional rollercoaster of fertility preservation amidst a cancer diagnosis.
Munn's openness about her fertility journey amidst adversity serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and challenges individuals face when navigating family planning in the midst of health crises. Her story resonates with countless others grappling with similar decisions, offering solace and inspiration in the face of uncertainty.
"A few hours later, we got the call from my doctor. He shared that we had two healthy embryos," Munn fondly recalled. "John and I just started crying. It was just so exciting because not only did we get it in one retrieval, but it also meant that I didn't have to keep putting myself at risk. It was just amazing."
In March 2024, Munn made the courageous decision to share her cancer diagnosis with the public, revealing that she had undergone a double mastectomy. Using her platform, the actress urged others to prioritize cancer screenings and take proactive steps for their health.
Reflecting on Munn's decision to share her journey, Mulaney expressed his unwavering support, stating, "We are very protective of our little life, but I knew from the day she was diagnosed that the risk assessment test her doctor had done open-and-shut saved her life. So, while we like to lead our life privately, I was completely supportive of Olivia sharing her story."
Munn's openness about her fertility journey and cancer diagnosis serves as a beacon of strength and resilience, inspiring others to prioritize their health and seek support when facing adversity.
The Quran - Chapter Qaf : 39
So be patient ˹O Prophet˺ with what they say. And glorify the praises of your Lord before sunrise and before sunset.
وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ (and proclaim His purity along with your Lord's praise before sunrise and before sunset... 50:39). The imperative verb sabbih is derived from the infinitive tasbih which originally means to declare or proclaim the purity of Allah.
This comprehends the verbal declaration or proclamation and the worship, such as prayer. Therefore, some scholars say that tasbih before sunrise refers to the morning prayer, and tasbih before sunset refers to ` Asr (late afternoon) prayer. Sayyidna Jarir Ibn ` Abdullah ؓ reports from the Holy Prophet ﷺ [ as part of a long Tradition ]
اِن اسَطَعتُم اَن لَّا تُغلَبُوا عَلیٰ صَلَوٰۃِ قَبلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمسِ وَقَبلَ غُرُوبِھَا، یَعنِی اَلعَصرَ وَ الفَجرَ ثُمَّ قَرَأ جَرِیر ؓ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ ۔ (بخاری و مسلم و اللفظ لمسلم)
"So if you can avoid missing the prayer before the sunrise and the prayer before sunset, that is the 'Asr prayer and the morning prayer, you must do so." (Bukhari and Muslim the wordings of Muslim: vide Qurtubi)
Although according to the majority of commentators, tasbih in the verse refers to salah (prayer), yet the general words of tasbih include all those invocations also the recitation of which is encouraged by authentic ahadith at the time of morning and evening.
Bukhari and Muslim have recorded a Tradition on the authority of Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
"If you recite morning and evening سُبحَانَ اللہ subhanallah a hundred times, no one will bring, on the Day of Judgment, a virtuous act better than it, except those who would recite the same tasbih in the same number or even more than that."
In the same collections, a narration by the same authority, says that whosoever recites subhanallahi wa bi hamdihi one hundred times in a day, his sins will be forgiven, even though they may be more than the waves of the sea. (Mazhari)
