How I Ended Up in Photos From a Vacation I Never Took

The summer I had breast cancer was also the summer I turned 40, AND the summer I was supposed to celebrate with a big island vacation with my college friends.

My friends knew I’d be in the middle of chemo and asked if they should cancel. But everyone had already paid, so I told them to go without me.

When that week came, I was heartbroken that I couldn’t be there.

I couldn’t bear to see photos of the trip in real time, so I asked if we could get together a few weeks later to hear about it and see the photos.

When we finally got together, they told me they had a surprise.

They turned on the TV and started streaming their vacation photos… and suddenly, there I was! 😂

They had brought actual, printed photos of me with them and placed me into different settings. There I was hanging out at the beach and on their snorkeling adventures, enjoying delicious drinks, and seated with them at group dinners!

It was hilarious and incredibly heartwarming. After feeling so sad about missing the trip, I was suddenly laughing and smiling. Most of all, I loved knowing they were thinking about me the whole time.

That’s what an amazing support squad does. They can’t always change what you’re going through, but they can find ways to bring you joy and remind you that you’re still part of the fun.

Sometimes support is as simple as finding a way to say: You may not physically be here, but you’re still with us. ❤️ 🏝️

#whatworkedformeweds