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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

Upworthy Staff

Array
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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