New mom left fighting for life after being diagnosed with rare pregnancy-related CANCER just minutes after she delivers twins

  • Jenna Hinman, 26, from Upstate new York, was rushed to hospital on March 3 when all of a sudden she couldn't breathe
  • Her babies were delivered by emergency C-section and she was placed in a medically induced coma
  • Doctors initially thought she had pneumonia, but she was later diagnosed with a rare cancer called choriocarcinoma, which has filled her body with tumors and lesions
  • Her husband, US Army Sgt. Brandon Hinman, shares his time by her bedside and NCIU where their little girls remain
  • The family is raising money for Jenna's care on a Go Fund Me website

By Helen Pow

PUBLISHED: 00:21 EST, 17 March 2014 | UPDATED: 02:09 EST, 17 March 2014

An Upstate New York mom is fighting for her life after she was diagnosed with a rare pregnancy-related cancer following the premature birth of her twins daughters.

Jenna Hinman, 26, was rushed to hospital on March 3 when all of a sudden she couldn't breathe and her husband, US Army Sgt. Brandon Hinman, called 911.

Doctors quickly decided she needed an emergency C-section to deliver the girls, Kinleigh and Azlynn, who were nine weeks early and weighed just 3 pounds each.

Tragic: Jenna Hinman, 26, pictured, is fighting for her life with a rare form of cancer

Tragic: Jenna Hinman, 26, pictured, is fighting for her life with a rare form of cancer

Emergency: After Jenna struggled to breathe, doctors delivered her daughters, pictured, by emergency C-section. They were nine weeks early and weighed just 3 pounds each

Emergency: After Jenna struggled to breathe, doctors delivered her daughters, pictured, by emergency C-section. They were nine weeks early and weighed just 3 pounds each

Because of their health, Jenna was able to get just a quick glimpse of her newborns before they were whisked away to NICU at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse where they'd all been transferred. But that was the only time she saw them.

 

More...

Soon after delivery, the young mom began coughing up blood and her breathing troubles got worse.

Doctors initially thought she had pneumonia, but she was later diagnosed with a rare cancer called choriocarcinoma, which has filled her body with tumors and lesions.

On March 6, she was placed in a medically induced coma and Brandon, who is based at Fort Drum, is supporting her tirelessly as a team of local and international doctors try to save her life.

Sad: Because of their health, Jenna, pictured right with her husband Brandon, was able to get just a quick glimpse of her newborns before they were whisked away to NICU

Sad: Because of their health, Jenna, pictured right with her husband Brandon, was able to get just a quick glimpse of her newborns before they were whisked away to NICU

Coma: On March 6, Jenna, pictured left and right, was placed in a medically induced coma and Brandon, who is based at Fort Drum, is supporting her tirelessly as a team of local and international doctors try to save her life
Coma: On March 6, Jenna, pictured left and right, was placed in a medically induced coma and Brandon, who is based at Fort Drum, is supporting her tirelessly as a team of local and international doctors try to save her life

Coma: On March 6, Jenna, pictured left and right, was placed in a medically induced coma and Brandon, who is based at Fort Drum, is supporting her tirelessly as a team of local and international doctors try to save her life

'Her lungs are so involved with tumor that they don't work. And right now they're not working at all,' Crouse Hospital oncologist Dr. Wiley Bunn told cnycentral.com.

According to the family's message on a Go Fund Me page where they have raised more than $57,000 for treatment, a chest infection has caused internal bleeding to the point Jenna's lungs don't work.

She is receiving heavy doses of chemotherapy and an ECMO machine, which costs around $100,000 a day to run, is removing blood from her body, oxygenating it and pumping it back through her veins.

Staying strong: The military man is splitting his time between his wife's bedside and NCIU, playing mom and dad to his daughters, pictured

Staying strong: The military man is splitting his time between his wife's bedside and NCIU, playing mom and dad to his daughters, pictured

Hoping: 'My hope is that my wife stands up, holds my hand, we have the girls and we walk out of this hospital,' Brandon, left, said of his wife, right

Hoping: 'My hope is that my wife stands up, holds my hand, we have the girls and we walk out of this hospital,' Brandon, left, said of his wife, right

The cancer forms in the placenta but spreads quickly. It is seen in fewer than one in 160,000 cases, Bunn said.

Jenna's condition has been touch and go from the start but, last week, she woke up briefly.

'I walked up to her bed and grabbed her hand and said "honey it's me. I love you, you're doing great." And as I was talking she shook her head yes,' Brandon told cnycentral.

'That could be the last time I talk to my wife.'

In the meantime, the military man is splitting his time between his wife's bedside and NCIU, playing mom and dad to the couple's daughters.

'My hope is that my wife stands up, holds my hand, we have the girls and we walk out of this hospital,' he said.

Comments (41)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

God bless this young family...

0
0
 Click to rate

That's so terrible. Best wishes for a full recovery. Is the military insurance not paying? They should be.... Strange they need a gofundme.

0
0
 Click to rate

Really feel for this family. Heartfelts go out to them. I pray for a miracle for her.

0
0
 Click to rate

It doesn't cost anywhere near $100,000 to actually run an ECMO. It's disgusting how much profit is taken from life saving treatment. Thank God for our NHS where you would get this as needed and not have to worry about paying a bill. It may creak but at least everybody has the same chance of life regardless of income with the NHS. This is a very tragic case and I hope that she recovers but it's not hopeful.

1
3
 Click to rate

This has got to be the saddest story, ever! Good luck girl.

0
4
 Click to rate

I looked it up and it says the cure rate for gestational choriocarcinoma is 90-95 percent even if it has already spread so that's good news.

1
10
 Click to rate

Yeah, why exactly is there a go fund me, when her husband is military?? As the wife of a vet, I have health care, she most definitely does, being pregnant. Yes, I feel bad, but what's the rest of the story, here??

12
8
 Click to rate

I hope this woman gets better. Not meaning to sound insensitive but why does this couple have a GoFundMe for her health care? As a military dependent, EVERYTHING pertaining to her treatment is covered under Tricare.

8
13
 Click to rate

The man in the sky is horrible deity!

39
0
 Click to rate

God Sucks!

38
3
 Click to rate

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now