When your BFF both helps you and laughs at you when you have twins, and somehow you just know that someday she’s going to have twins too, and then she does and you help and laugh at her too! Robin asked me to take some pix of her kids, especially the girls who need headshots to get started on possibly modeling. And I couldn’t leave out the miracle baby who is now so tall- its just a matter of time until he’s bigger than both of us and he’s still only 10! Robin’s son is her allllll over (looks like her, acts like her, his eyes disappear when really smiling just like her, has her unbelieveable artistic abilities- well, thats both his parents actually, but he’s got it in spades) and the girls are allll their dad (irish much?!). It’s a good combination all around!

So I’ve been holding on to posting this for many months. 9 months to be exact. This is my BFF Jen and her awesome family who you’ve seen before here on the blog many times over many years. These photos were taken in the very early fall of last year for their family Christmas card mostly, but they had way more importance than that. Last August Jen found a lump in her breast. Let me preface that by saying that this girl is VIGILANT about annual mammograms and checkups and just 9 months prior to August, she got an all-clear on her latest mammogram. All clear. Within those 9 months, she went from totally clear, to having breast cancer-breast cancer big enough to feel in a self exam. Let that sink in. She was diagnosed with Stage 1. She opted for a double mastectomy because of family history and the likelihood of recurrence and really, who needs that worry. So she took the best option for her health (and i still can’t imagine having to make that choice, how she did it with grace and dignity and so much fucking bravery!!) had the surgery, months and months of the worst chemo with the worst side effects (all the shitty side effects you’d expect including losing her hair, sickness, pain etc) then weeks of radiation 5 days a week with all of those related bullshit complications (including burnt skin).

Until today. Today is the day she is DONE.

I still couldn’t be more proud to call this bad ass motherfucker warrior my friend. This girl who always, always had a positive attitude (she said she had her moments, but she never ever gave up fighting. For herself, for her husband and family, for her boys). And that makes her the bravest person I know. Not only did she beat this monster, but came out stronger on the other side. She still has some stuff to do in her recovery, at least one more surgery reconstruction and other things to do. But she made it! I am so lucky to have her in my life and knowing that she’ll be here for a long, long time to listen to my bullshit and help me like she always does just makes me so happy. And relieved. So relieved.

I love you so much my friend! And I am so fucking proud of you!!

(posted with permission)