Best Shot Monday- Crazy Apropos…
The subject of this weeks Best Shot Monday is just downright spooky. We are here in Northern Virginia visiting hubby’s family. His sister has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and only last week began her very aggressive chemotherapy treatment. When the chemo is over she will lose a breast.
After managing their way through the trial of the diagnosis, the information gathering and the just plain old life changing nature of the experience in a very short time, she is now feeling for the most part lousy from the chemo. She will lose her fertility and her hair. But with this most aggressive treatment her prognosis is good.
Here’s the deal. She’s turning 40 next month. She’s married. She has three kids, ages 6, 3 and not yet 2. She has a tremendous fight ahead of her. I don’t know that she quite has her head around what lies before her, I don’t know that anyone would… or could. But she is keeping a fabulous attitude. She smiles. She laughs. She is moving forward with incredible strength, grace and humour.
She’ll shave her head on Wednesday. And in anticipation of that event she asked me to shoot a portrait. The quintessential ‘before‘. She rallied, gussied, put on a smile and sat by a tree nearby her home. Despite being tired, feeling sick and emotionally exhausted!
In honour of all those battling this disease and my dear SIL, with a big shout out to Caring Bridge, where she shares this ordeal with family, friends and others- a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend- a superhero….
funny…
generous…
alive…
loyal…
loving…
vibrant…
joyous…
strong.
She sounds like an amazing woman. I wish her wellness and health and the strength and the smiles to overcome the odds against her.
i hope the lovely portrait helps keep her going in the months to come.
What a beautiful portrait. I am sure she will cherish it.
This shot and the wonderful attitude she has are both very beautiful. Wishing her health and happiness.
I would never have known she was not feeling good in this photo. She looks so vibrant and happy. You did a great job.
My mom just had her 2 year anniversary of being cancer free after having a double mastectomy and chemo. Sounds like your SIL has a great support system. I wish for her good health in the future.
I agree with Joanna. I never would have guessed the emotional and physical turmoil your SIL is going through. She’s beautiful. This photo could be her “I’m fighting for THIS.” photo. The one that reminds her…that helps her focus on the fight.
I’ll be praying for her, for her children, and for those that love and support her now.
She’s so beautiful. And she Will be after she kicks cancer in the butt. Her hair will grown back. That photo is amazing.
She will win this battle!
She is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing this story. May she beat this!
She looks beautiful - and you can see her beautiful spirit shining through. She’s lucky to have someone take such a lovely portrait of her.
Wishing her health and all of you peace.
Wow, what a beautiful woman she is….on the outside. I’m sure so much more so on the INSIDE. But, that is an awesome picture. Wishing her good health and success as she fights the demon cancer! God Bless her.
She is beautiful with hair. She will be beautiful without hair.
Big Shooter’s Momma died of BC. His oldest sis has BC and is going through the treatments and masectomy too.
It’s an incredibly ugly disease that happens to incredibly beautiful humans, inside and out.
I will be keeping your fam in my thoughts while you ALL battle this disease together.
Wow, she is beautiful and amazing! I agree with the other commentors, you would never know what she is already fighting from that photo.
My thoughts and prayer are with her and her family. I know so many incredible women that have fought this fight and won! I have great faith.