A husband took these photos of his wife and captured love and loss beautifully.

I feel as if I were right there with them as I looked through the photos.

By

Feb 26, 2025

Photo credit: Array – Snuggles.

When I saw these incredible photos Angelo Merendino took of his wife, Jennifer, as she battled breast cancer, I felt that I shouldn’t be seeing this snapshot of their intimate, private lives. The photos humanize the face of cancer and capture the difficulty, fear, and pain that they experienced during the difficult time.

But as Angelo commented: “These photographs do not define us, but they are us.“

empathy, human condition, health — Having a cold one.
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ4Mzc3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTcxNzQ4MzY0NH0.THmrJAdG1j428mdpgZo1w6RPFRxXHXh94BO_sXadSXs/img.jpg?width=980">assets.rebelmouse.io</a>

relationships, love, connection — Bed hugs.
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ4Mzc3OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTcxNzgzNjgxOX0.F9FVAyFmLVOJ7OFTVG1j8K_BpHNLH7X0a-Quhm32ZmE/img.jpg?width=980">assets.rebelmouse.io</a>

cancer, compassion, connection — A challenging journey.
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ4Mzc4MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTczMTE5NjM0M30.YYOOYS3AkSkoQICztrST92VkgTI7rLOcG_WXow-yeH0/img.jpg?width=980">assets.rebelmouse.io</a>

medicine, treatment, insurance — The doctor’s office.
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ4Mzc4MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY5NzMxMzQ5Nn0.gzotl-F-GHMo3KQYPqd6OqCvkJWwjYOw89sQHgjXYGU/img.jpg?width=980">assets.rebelmouse.io</a>

sleeping, family, society — Cozy sheets.
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ4Mzc4Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY5MTQyMzUyOH0.Co4BTwXDrflAaOOcLYN-QnsntEDn9YoU2Go_cqXeZyQ/img.jpg?width=980">assets.rebelmouse.io</a>

hair, radiation, treatments — Hair falling out.
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ4Mzc4My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY4MzgxNjUxOX0.BUfFvo5JFYOLlNCTI7iirSryjtFwhH5UTWyRsuSLUGs/img.jpg?width=980">assets.rebelmouse.io</a>

side effects, humanity, reproductive rights — Shaving the hair off.
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ4Mzc4NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTcxODMxNDk1Mn0.4rIsE0ow-FC83oPO2gKs3CAdjvMM78LRe746txBLDvQ/img.jpg?width=980">assets.rebelmouse.io</a>

bald, emotional challenges, fear — Sitting in the window.
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ4Mzc4NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTcxMDQzMjkzNX0.wpAVk0H4DurshrncANEuOBPmPDq6WETPaDksDpz_NZc/img.jpg?width=980">assets.rebelmouse.io</a>

assisted walking, wa — Sunny day on the sidewalk
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ4Mzc4Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3ODI4MzA5NX0.J2Wmpdh1g1XHRtTUetTcYaDCv2Jbg42E-OsDMtgd1dY/img.jpg?width=980">assets.rebelmouse.io</a>

stress, anxiety, human condition — A moment.
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ4Mzc4Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY5NjY4NTExMn0.AFv1JFber0VLqrWeZt67sP5q9FikL6jj747VDCv8Q4Q/img.jpg?width=980">assets.rebelmouse.io</a>

moms, daughters, touches — Compassion touches in the car.
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ4Mzc4OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTcwNDkzNDk4NX0.YHIXKtGtRu4s88qzLU3nUGMZWVg0CVPy5_MnP2cA30M/img.jpg?width=980">assets.rebelmouse.io</a>

pets, companions, malignancy — Pets for comfort.
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQ4Mzc4OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTczMDU3NjY3OH0.P2ziqv-vPf9yXK7QTF_PKfqcj–yTnIohFzPcWahFVc/img.jpg?width=980">assets.rebelmouse.io</a>

ocean, beach, floating — Floating in the ocean.

celebrations, friendship, aging — Birthday celebration.

depression, disease, sickness — A time to rest.

patient, doctor, quiet — Getting more treatment

hospital room, chemo therapy, chemo — Family present.

tolerance, quiet, peac — Thoughts in a hospital room.

contact, relationship, allies — A loving hand.

ambulance, life expectancy, friends — An ambulance trip.

nurses, hospice workers, funny — A little smirk.

health, contentedness, blessings — Home again.

sorrow, sadness, peace — Last rights.

anguish, heartache, misery — An empty bed.

funeral, funeral procession, grief — A lonely road.

pain, loss — “I loved it all."

This article originally appeared twelve years ago.

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