‘This is where we produce the isotope that helped me’

From gas cylinders to safety goggles, Jennifer makes sure that every essential item for producing medical isotopes is there when it’s needed. She monitors orders, stays in close contact with colleagues and suppliers, and steps in when issues arise. ‘Sometimes everything runs smoothly. Other times, I’m scrambling to source a special gas at the last minute. That means thinking fast and staying alert.’ A missed delivery can hold up production. ‘That means someone might have to wait longer for treatment. I want to avoid that at all costs.’

Illness as turning point

In 2021, Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer. ‘First came the surgery, then chemo and finally radiation.’ It was a difficult period, and it changed her. ‘Work used to be everything. I was working 80 hours a week. But suddenly, I asked myself: what if I only have three years left? What have I done with my life?’ That question sparked a search for a job that truly matters. Jennifer considered a career in healthcare and spent a day shadowing someone at the hospital. ‘I wanted to give something back and make a difference in people’s lives. However, the work was physically too demanding. When NRG PALLAS came along, everything fell into place. ‘I suddenly realised that the isotope I was given during one of my treatments was made here. How special is that?’

Hope through innovation

Jennifer never expected breast cancer to play such a visible role in her workplace. ‘The fact that colleagues participate in campaigns like the Pink Ribbon Dam to Dam Walk says a lot about the atmosphere here. People don’t just leave their work at the front door.’ 

"Daarom voelt het zo betekenisvol om nu iets te doen wat voor anderen het verschil maakt."

She also sees first-hand how much NRG PALLAS is doing to improve treatments. ‘I know how intense treatment can be. So when I see people here working to make it more targeted and humane, it really touches me.’ Chemotherapy has left Jennifer with lasting side effects: a B12 deficiency, neuropathy in her hands and feet, and problems with her vision and memory. ‘Isn’t it incredible that we produce something here that might prevent that one day?’

Everything falls into place

During her illness, the future felt out of reach. However, Jennifer is now at a point where the past and future have come together. ‘What I’ve been through is always with me. And that’s exactly what makes this work so meaningful. I know what it’s like to hold on to hope for treatment. Now, I get to be part of creating that hope. Not just for one person, but for 30,000 people every day.’