“I was heading straight for suicide”: during her leukemia, Nathalie Marquay risked her life for her children

Nathalie Marquay spoke about her leukemia and her choices. Jean-Pierre Pernaut's wife nearly death to have children.

© Bestimage “I was heading straight for suicide”: During her leukemia, Nathalie Marquay risked her life for her children

IN BRIEF

• Nathalie Marquay-Pernaut discovered her leukemia in 1997 at the age of 30, while she was living in Martinique with her partner at the time.
• Despite a late diagnosis and a life-threatening prognosis, she refused a bone marrow transplant to preserve her fertility, defying medical recommendations.
• Today, Nathalie Marquay-Pernaut says she is in perfect health, attributing her survival to a “super star above the head”.

“I wasn't given a month to live.”testifies Nathalie Marquay-Pernaut while recalling the discovery of her leukemia at the age of 30. Nathalie Marquay-Pernaut was only that age, in 1997, when she was diagnosed.

The former Miss France spoke her illness on Franceinfo this Tuesday, February 4, 2025. Ten years before marrying Jean-Pierre Pernaut, the father of her two children, Nathalie Marquay-Pernaut went through a épainful ordeal facing the illness.

Nathalie Marquay talks about her leukemia: death at close range

At the time of the events, Nathalie Marquay was living with her former partner in Martinique. Although she had just fallen ill, the former Miss France did not know the cause immediately.“I saw 8 doctors before I was declared sick since I was told I had dengue fever. After 8 days, I told myself that the dengue fever must have passed but I still felt bad.” she testified.

Lou Pernaut's mother then went to see yet another doctor on the island. “I had 5 blood pressure, 41°C fever… But I don't know, I had a force in me fortunately.” she said. A caregiver then suggested she take a blood test. “My God, but fortunately you came to see me !” exclaimed the health professional, after receiving the blood test results. “I had to go to the hospital urgently because I had practically no blood left. I could have stayed at home for one or two more hours, I would have been dead.”

Jean-Pierre Pernaut's wife did not have a transplant

Repatriated urgently to Paris, Nathalie Marquay was taken care of by the Gustave-Roussy hospital, the leading center in Europe specializing in cancers. “Normally, I was given less than a month to live and I'm still here.“ affirms the former Miss. Despite the necessity to treat her cancer, she did not want surgery that would have deprived her to be pregnant.

“I had refused the bone marrow transplant because it would have made me 100% sterile, the doctors – and my parents – told me that Iwas completely crazy, that I was heading straight to suicide. I felt deep down that if I had the transplant, I was going to die because I wanted to have children, it was my but.” has explained the widow of Jean-Pierre Pernaut. Now, she is  “in great shape” thanks to “a super éstar above her head.”