Normally, a biopsy would be scheduled immediately, or as soon as possible, after finding a mass. But being pregnant threw the typical handbook out the window. A few hours after the delivery of the shocking news, my family and I met with the doctors to determine next steps. I was given two possible options: have the biopsy performed while pregnant or wait until after I deliver. After hearing and understanding all the potential risks and much back and forth on my part, I decided to choose option one- have the biopsy performed while pregnant so a diagnosis could be determined as soon as possible and a plan could be put in place for my medical treatment.

The day the biopsy was to be performed, I laid in the hospital bed anxiously waiting. All the doctors involved, and there were many due to my pregnancy, were in a pre-procedure huddle. Just a few moments before I should have been wheeled to the IR suite, the doctors came into my room to tell me they were not comfortable performing the procedure. My husband and I were both in shock, but also thankful that the doctors did not move forward to perform a procedure they were not 100% ready to do.

Back to the drawing board we went. In the days following I met with two Oncologists where I would eventually begin my treatment. My Oncologist coordinated with my OB, and following their guidance we decided to deliver my daughter about five weeks early so I could have the biopsy and begin treatment, which was most likely needed, as soon as possible. Although I wanted to carry my daughter for as long as possible, which is why I initially chose to have the biopsy performed while pregnant, I was finally comfortable with the idea that should would spend her first days in the NICU.

My induction was scheduled for August 21st. When my husband and I arrived at the hospital the night prior, I was already 2cm dilated. Whether I wanted her to stay inside or not was no longer up to me, she wanted out. Later, we would come to find, she was being forced out. After not much effort, my beautiful baby girl was born. Thanks to the epidural and my strong baby girl who pushed herself out, I felt little to no pain for the first time in months. Baby girl spent a week in the NICU and I was discharged two days later.

At just four days postpartum, my liver biopsy was performed. It’s all so incredible to me now, thinking back. For my body to have gone through so much and still come out fighting. Anyway, I returned home same day and my baby girl came home from the NICU two days later. I spent just four days with her before I found myself in the emergency room. I woke up one morning with severe, intense, worse than child labor pain, right side abdominal pain. At the hospital, a CT scan was performed and I found out I have a reaction to morphine. While they managed my pain, I waited to be admitted to the Oncology floor.

I waited a full 24hrs to be admitted. During that time, my biopsy results came back: stage IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the diagnosis we had been fearing. I was never admitted to the Oncology floor, instead I was transferred and admitted to RWJBH, where my Oncologist was, to begin chemotherapy immediately.