The “L” Word
This is a deeply personal and heartfelt photo session that I’m about to share, and as I begin this blog post, I find myself unsure of where to start or how much to share. But let’s begin at the beginning – with a beautiful friendship between three women, because that’s what this story is truly about. It’s about how three people, spread across the United States in Pennsylvania, California, and Connecticut, can cultivate a friendship that blossoms into laughter, love, and light… and eventually, lemonade.
Over two years ago, in 2014, I was invited to teach at a photography conference in Salt Lake City. During my stay, I connected with a photography friend I knew from online but had never met in person – Laura. We instantly clicked, and aside from our teaching commitments, we were inseparable. It was during this conference that Laura introduced me to Alix, describing her as “cool.” Instantly, I felt a connection with Alix. She exuded classic beauty and had endless stories about her experiences living in NYC while growing up as a southern girl. She was one of the most down-to-earth people I had ever met.
After the conference, the reality of maintaining a long-distance friendship across three different states set in. However, we soon discovered Voxer, a “walkie-talkie” app that allowed us to communicate almost daily. Over the next two years, we shared our highs and lows, intimate details of our lives, and most importantly, lots of laughter. A year later, we reunited in Vegas for another photography conference, along with our friend Summer. It was an epic trip that reinforced our bond.
Fast forward to January of this year (2017), when our normal day of voxing took a devastating turn. Alix informed us that she was heading to the hospital for a lung scan after experiencing a relentless cough. Within hours, she was quarantined with suspicions of tuberculosis. And then came the gut-wrenching news – Alix had lung cancer.
The following days were a whirlwind of emotions as we learned more about Alix’s diagnosis. The tumor in her lung was the size of a lemon – the dreaded “L” word. Alix started a blog to document her journey, sharing the in-betweens and details there.
Last month, Laura and I traveled to stay with Alix. Meeting her family, including her mother and husband, was an incredible experience. We also had the pleasure of meeting Alix’s best friends, Todd and Nicole, who we had heard so much about over the years. It was evident that Alix is surrounded by the best and most supportive people. Her husband, in particular, is the perfect match for her and adores her beyond words. It warmed my heart to witness the love and support surrounding Alix, especially during such a challenging time.
The takeaway from our trip is a simple yet powerful reminder – life is too short to wait until your friend gets cancer to go see them. We need to cherish the people who shape our lives every single day.
I want to conclude by saying that Alix is a fighter. She has so much to live for – an amazing husband and three beautiful children. It’s been three months since her diagnosis, and she’s doing remarkably well. I have no doubt that she will beat this, but prayers and positive thoughts are always appreciated.
I had the absolute pleasure of capturing Alix’s strength and beauty during our time together, and I’m honored to share a glimpse of that with you.
Here are just some of the images of Alix with her parents and her best friend in CT (Nicole) along with a few iPhone photos from our trip to NYC to meet her long time bestie Todd and fellow photographer Jennifer Tonetti Spellman who is someone else I have been able to develop a friendship with through voxer… I can’t say enough great things about this app for long distance friendships!
Enjoy! xo, Taryn
