Mother puts baby before chemotherapy

A26-year-old pregnant-woman delayed cancer treatment in order to give her unborn child a chance at life, thepaper.cn reported on Thursday.

Zhang Lijun, from Shanghai, was five months pregnant when she was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer during a regular health check.

Her doctor advised that they immediately induce labor so she could undergo treatment, but the mother-to-be hesitated and decided to wait until she gave birth.

“I’ve lived for 26 years but my child hasn’t even had the chance yet,” Zhang said.

Her life got tougher after the decision. Without any treatment, Zhang’s cancer grew aggressively and affected the growth of the fetus.

To ensure the birth of a healthy baby and allow Zhang to undergo cancer treatment as soon as possible, the hospital decided to perform a C-section after considering the family’s wishes.

The baby boy, nicknamed Xiaolongbao, weighing a bit over 1 kilogram, was delivered in December during Zhang’s 30th week of pregnancy.

The baby was safe, but another war began.

An examination showed Zhang suffers from a very rare, highly aggressive cancer that has spread to her whole body. It is inoperable.

“Agony is a process. I spend every day as my last day,” Zhang said. She and her husband had to face the truth of her prognosis and she’s receiving palliative care.

Zhang said her wish is to one day hear her child call her “mama”. She keeps fighting the disease and is recording all the things she wants to say to her child.

She recorded 18 birthday wishes on video for her baby, one for every year until the baby turns 18, and hopes her child grows strong and able to handle difficult situations.

A documentary about her experience is about to be broadcast on a Shanghai news channel on Saturday.