Lisa Fasone and her partner had long dreamed of having two children. When she became pregnant in 2021, everything seemed to be on track. They welcomed their daughter in February 2022, and as they adjusted to life as a family of three, Fasone began experiencing persistent postpartum symptoms, including night sweats and headaches. Initially, she attributed these to the challenges of breastfeeding and hormonal changes after childbirth. She also noticed that she wasn’t getting her period and had difficulty conceiving again. By the time her daughter turned two, Fasone became concerned and sought medical help. Her OB-GYN discovered that her prolactin levels were abnormally high. Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, which plays a role in fertility and breast milk production. While prolactin levels naturally fluctuate during pregnancy, Fasone’s remained elevated. A scan revealed a small, benign tumor on her pituitary gland called a prolactinoma. This tumor was producing excess prolactin, which explained her symptoms. Typically, such tumors are treated with medication that can shrink them over time, explained Dr. Stephen McGill, a neurosurgeon at Northwestern University who treated Fasone. Fasone began taking the medication but experienced severe side effects, including dizziness. The medication was not safe during pregnancy, and her high prolactin levels would have made conceiving difficult anyway. After a year on the medication, scans showed the tumor had grown instead of shrinking. Concerned about her health, fertility, and the side effects, Fasone and her doctors decided on surgery. The procedure, which is minimally invasive and performed through the nose, could lead to complications, including further fertility issues. However, Fasone felt it was worth the risk for a chance at a complete cure and a life off medication. Fasone underwent the surgery in April 2025. The next day, her prolactin levels had returned to normal. Thirty days later, she had her first period since her first pregnancy nearly four years earlier. However, a few weeks later, her prolactin levels rose again—but this time, it was due to good news: she was pregnant with her second child. Fasone welcomed her daughter in February 2026, and her pregnancy was normal, with prolactin levels returning to normal. She was able to breastfeed, and her first child, now a big sister, loves her new sibling. Fasone is now back at work and recently earned a doctorate of medical science. She and her doctors will continue monitoring her prolactin levels and will have regular MRI scans for the next five years. For now, she’s focused on enjoying the family she always wanted.