for what they suspected was aurinary tract infection . She felt better for a few weeks , but by the end of July she was back at the hospital with the same symptoms .
Each time , they used an ultrasound to check on her baby — who appeared healthy . Because Lin ’ s liver enzymes were elevated , doctors thought she might have arare pregnancy complication called HELLP syndrome that can lead to preeclampsia — dangerously high blood pressure .
“ They kept telling me the baby was fine , which was arelief , but Ididn ’ t think anything was fine with me ,” Lin says .“ Idon ’ t really blame anyone for concentrating on the pregnancy . I ’ m in my 30s . I ’ m pregnant . The last thing anyone would suspect is pancreatic cancer . But you have to advocate for yourself in these situations . Youjust have to .”
Aweek later she was back at the hospital . This time Lin insisted that doctors scan more than just her womb . She went into the MRI at 1a . m . The next morning asocial worker appeared in her room and asked Lin if she could reach afamily member . She tried her husband , but he was busy dropping off their daughter atday care .
Soon , about 10 doctors walked into her room , including two surgeons , an OB-GYN and ateam of residents . As Lin sat on her bed alone , they told her the MRI results revealed atumor on her pancreas .
“ My head was spinning ,” Lin says . “ I called up my parents , hysterical . I finally reached my husband . He had just dropped off our daughter and was out buying me flowers for our anniversary .”
DIFFICULTDECISIONS
After the initial shock , Lin did what she had done throughout her career and family life . She began planning . The first thing that needed to be decided was whether to have abiopsy while pregnant todetermine if the tumor was malignant . Lin was hesitant . Because her liver was swollen , there was very little room for error .
The biopsy could possibly harm her and the baby . But with time of the essence , Lin decided to go ahead . Shortly before itwas to be performed , the biopsy was canceled . The doctors
“ THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I COULDN ’ T EVEN LIFT A DIAPER BAG . NOWICAN TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO THE DOCTOR BY MYSELF , AND IT FEELS GREAT .”
JACLYN LIN
did not feel it was safe enough .
Now it was on to the second alternative : Induce the pregnancy , deliver the baby prematurely and then do the biopsy .“ Iwanted her to stay inside as long as possible ,” Lin says . Her daughter was delivered on Aug . 21 — about five weeks early — and placed in the neonatal intensive care unit .
Four days later , doctors performed the biopsy . While waiting for the results , Lin woke upathome with severe abdominal pain . At the emergency room , ascan showed that her liver was even larger than it had been .
The biopsy came back as pancreatic adenocarcinoma — the most common form of the disease . Ithad already spread to her liver . Lin was immediately transferred to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick , where she knew the oncology staff from working with them years before .
Lin began an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy , along with the powerful pain reliever fentanyl . The side effects were debilitating . Her hair thinned . She often felt nauseated . She couldn ’ t stomach solid food for months and lived on protein shakes . Her weight dropped from 160 pounds postpartum to 115 .
“ There were days Iwas so weak I couldn ’ t even hold my baby ,” Lin says .
Her family came toher aid immediately . Her father took aleave from his job at NJ Transit and with his wife would make anhourlong trek each day to River Edge to watch their toddler granddaughter . Family members helped pay for alive-in nanny to care for the baby . Her in-laws in Taiwan have flown across the globe to help in person .
“ When Jaclyn was at her worst , that ’ s when our family came together at its strongest ,” Yee says . “ We would do anything for her .”
RELISHING THE ROUTINE
Despite the side effects , the chemotherapy was working . Lin ’ s tumors shrank considerably . She was off all pain medication by Thanksgiving , three months after she began treatment . Soon she was eating sold food and regaining weight .
Around that time , Lin took ashort trip to Disney World with her husband and their 2-year-old toddler . “ She really didn ’ t care about the rides , she just wanted to meet Mickey and Minnie ,” Lin says laughing .“ Plus Chip and Dale . She really loves those two .”
Lin feels healthier than she has in months . Instead of driving more than an hour to New Brunswick , she is getting chemotherapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering ’ soffices in Montvale . After a few hours inthe office , she goes home with asmall IV attached to her , allowing the chemo drugs to slowly enter her bloodstream over two days .
In between treatments , she spends her days deeply invested in the kind of normal activities other young mothers may take for granted , because she doesn ’ t know how long her health will hold up .
One of her oncologists told her to plan things out in two-to-three-month intervals . Anything beyond that is unknown .
Last week , Lin ’ s baby woke upwith a fever and sore throat . Amorning phone call was placed to the pediatrician ’ s office , anafternoon appointment was scheduled , acar ride with all the baby gear was made and finally an exam was given .
It ’ sastressful routine that all parents face . But to Lin , even the most taxing routine is something to be cherished .
“ There was atime when Icouldn ’ t even lift adiaper bag ,” she says .“ Now Ican take mydaughter to the doctor by myself , and itfeels great .” n
@ 201magazine ( 201 ) HEALTH 2024 EDITION
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