A Journey Through Health and Motherhood

Lisa Fasone had always envisioned having two children. When she got pregnant in 2021, it felt like things were finally lining up. Their daughter arrived in February 2022.

As they adapted to being a family of three, Fasone began experiencing persistent postpartum issues like night sweats and headaches. Initially, she attributed these to breastfeeding and hormonal fluctuations. She found it concerning when her period didn’t return and attempts to conceive again were unsuccessful. By the time her daughter turned two, her worries intensified.

“I thought, ‘It’s been a year since I stopped nursing, and I still feel terrible,’” said Fasone, now 32. “I knew something was off, but I kept convincing myself it was fine. After a year, though, I drew the line.”

She visited her OB-GYN, and tests revealed high prolactin levels, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. This hormone has a role in fertility and milk production. Prolactin levels normally adjust after pregnancy, but Fasone’s had not returned to normal.

Her healthcare team discovered a small benign tumor called a prolactinoma on her pituitary gland. It was overproducing hormones and causing her symptoms. Dr. Stephen McGill, a neurosurgeon at Northwestern University who treated her, mentioned that surgical intervention was uncommon for such tumors. Instead, they typically manage them with oral medication, which usually leads to the tumor dissipating on its own.

After starting the medication, Fasone faced significant side effects, including severe dizziness. What troubled her most was the impact on her family plans. This medication wasn’t safe for pregnancy, and her elevated prolactin would make it very challenging to conceive. Watching her daughter play alone filled her with anxiety.

“You hear about infertility journeys from friends or acquaintances, but you never imagine it happening to you, especially when your first pregnancy was so straightforward,” she reflected. “I had to confront the possibility that perhaps I would just have one child, and that’s how it would be.”

“I didn’t really have a choice”

After a year on medication, a follow-up scan revealed troubling news: the prolactinoma was growing instead of shrinking. It was now the size of a pea, resting on a gland no larger than a blueberry. The growth, along with her symptoms and fertility issues, prompted consideration of surgery, McGill explained.

The surgery carried risks to her pituitary gland, including potential further complications with fertility.

But Fasone felt it was worth the gamble. The surgery offered a chance for a complete recovery and a break from medication. For the first time since her diagnosis, she glimpsed hope.

“At this point, I didn’t feel like I had a choice anymore. I wasn’t living the life I envisioned,” Fasone shared. “I took it on directly—I knew if I wanted a normal life and to complete my family, this was something I had to pursue.”

A “really exciting” surprise

Fasone underwent a minimally invasive procedure through her nose in April 2025. The following day, she learned her prolactin levels had returned to normal after the tumor was removed. Then, just 30 days later, she finally had her first period since her daughter was born nearly four years prior. It felt like things were on track again.

However, a screening a few weeks later showed her prolactin levels rising once more, leaving her understandably crushed.

“One of the surgery’s risks was that McGill might not be able to fully remove the tumor, leaving some cells that could reignite this issue. I worried that was what was happening,” she recounted.

But further tests revealed unexpected news—she was pregnant with her long-desired second child.

“I was stunned. I had been through so much and was still grappling with the whole experience,” Fasone remembered. “It was incredibly exciting and fulfilling.”

“Just super grateful”

Fasone welcomed her second daughter in February 2026. Dr. McGill noted that her pregnancy went smoothly, and her prolactin levels remained stable. She was able to breastfeed, just as she did with her first child, who now relishes her role as a big sister. Fasone is back to work and has recently completed a doctorate in medical science, an exhilarating change for her.

“We’re just so grateful for where we are now,” she said.

Both McGill and Fasone’s endocrinologist will continue monitoring her prolactin levels to ensure her health remains stable, including annual MRIs over the next five years. Gradually, the frequency of the scans will decrease.

Fasone is eager to spend less time at appointments, concentrating instead on enjoying her family. “When I had my baby in February, I reflected on where I was just a year ago, preparing for brain surgery,” she mused. “Returning to work after maternity leave in May, I thought about how different everything had been a year prior. It’s incredible to see how far I’ve come.”