Mom dies of rare cancer found when she had twins (cancer)

A military mom whose rare form of cancer was discovered when she gave birth to twins has died, after two months of battling the illness and attracting a devoted online following.

Jenna Hinman, 26, succumbed on Monday to a placental cancer that doctors found when she gave birth to Azlynn and Kinleigh on March 3, ABC News reports. The girls were delivered 30 weeks' premature (at 3 pounds, 6 ounces, and 2 pounds 9 ounces, respectively) and stayed in intensive care for 6 weeks, but are fine today.

For Jenna, the battle was far more severe.

Doctors had to invent treatments because Hinman's stage 3 choriocarcinoma—which originates in fast-growing placental tissue—is incredibly rare, the Post-Standard reports.

Hinman was placed in a medically induced coma and given chemotherapy, but while her cancer count fell, she stayed in critical condition and eventually died of complications from pneumonia.

"She's probably the most kind-hearted person I ever met," said her husband, Army Sgt. Brandon Hinman, back in March. "She would go out of her way for anyone, give them the shirt off her back."

The outpouring has been tremendous, as thousands sent messages and donated money: "Many cried at Monday's news that Jenna had died," wrote the Post-Standard in an editorial.