2016-Apr-05
Cisco Olympian: Bee Lin
Bee Lin · U.S.
UPDATE After bravely battling cancer for almost two years, Bee Lin passed away on July 27, 2016. She leaves behind her husband Eric and two-year old daughter Rylie. If you wish to contribute to a trust fund for Rylie please visit this page. The following article was published last April.
Sixteen months ago, Bee Lin received the worst possible news. She had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Stomach Cancer and was given just nine months to live. With a six-month-old daughter Rylie and a great career at Cisco working with people she loved, the news completely shook Bee’s world.
“It was a very, very hard pill to swallow,” Bee said. “I was a new mother, a wife. And I’m not going to lie. It’s been difficult physically and sometimes mentally, but with everyone’s support and words of encouragement, I am able to get through each day.”
Today, Bee continues to fight every day against the disease that may have robbed her of her hair, but has not taken her smile, her positive attitude or her love for life. She undergoes a very aggressive chemotherapy treatment—her 23rd round of chemo is scheduled for next week—that often leaves her drained of energy and confidence. But though life for Bee may seem to be a series of short-term goals and day-to-day struggles, she is now looking ahead with anticipation to this summer, when she will travel to Rio de Janeiro as a Cisco Olympian and a participant in the official Torch Relay.
“To have something like the Torch Relay as a future goal, it’s a big motivator for someone who was given such a short time to live,” Bee says. “This summer? That’s long term to me, and to be able to have a long-term goal is incredible. It gives me more courage, more strength to wake up every day and fight.”
Bee’s amazing attitude and love for life did not begin with her cancer diagnosis, however. She has always strived to go “Faster, Higher, Stronger” in both her personal and professional life. On their honeymoon, Bee and her husband Eric climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. She wore a Big Bird costume to the office as part of a virtual Halloween party. Her teammates and colleagues speak to her contagious and inspiring spirit regardless of her circumstances.
“The best thing about Bee is if you met her walking across the Cisco campus, you would never know she had cancer,” said Angie Mistretta, Bee’s friend, boss and the one who nominated Bee for the Torch Relay honor. “She has maintained the most upbeat and positive attitude I have ever seen, even when she is feeling sick and weak. Bee’s dedication to her family, the company and her courage to aggressively fight the battle with cancer are truly inspirational.”
Even in the midst of her aggressive treatment plan, Bee strives to maintain a sense of normalcy both at home and at work. She credits her daughter Rylie, husband Eric and mother Rasamee with giving her the strength and motivation necessary to get up every day and continue to fight. Bee is also thankful for all the support she has received from Angie and is grateful to call her a boss and a friend. She is determined to use her story to help others experiencing similar challenges. Being a Torch Bearer at the 2016 Rio Games will give her a new, broader platform to spread her message.
“I will carry the torch for anyone and everyone who has ever been touched by this terrible disease, especially those who also have stomach cancer—which affects around 30,000 people in the U.S. each year, but receives per cancer death the least amount of federal funding,” Bee said. “It’s hard to fight, and it hurts you physically, but don’t let it touch your heart. Don’t let it touch your soul. Keep fighting every single day.”
As she strives to do just that, Bee will continue to do the things that make her happy—such as having a stuffed animal tea party with Rylie or spending quality time with Eric. And while her diagnosis is never far from her mind, Bee refuses to let it keep her from the things she wants to do, which now includes carrying the Olympic Torch on behalf of Cisco at the 2016 Rio Games.
“It still scares me every day,” Bee says with emotion. “That expiration date. It could be tomorrow. It could be the next day. I try not to, but I think about my prognosis every day. But it makes me stronger. It makes every single day that much more worthwhile. Every single day I live it to the fullest.”
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