#10--The Battles We Didn't Choose

If you've only been married five months and your wife is the one who gets diagnosed with breast cancer?  Well, clearly your honeymoon is REALLY over.

Even though cancer hits way too many of us, we are still shocked when it attacks someone particularly young and vibrant.  Such was the case with Jennifer Merendino.  Her husband Angelo is our guest this episode, recounting how he and his wife Jen dealt with  her double mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and breast reconstruction before their first wedding anniversary.  And then how they eventually dealt with the cancer returning, trying to explain long distance to family and friends the journey they were going through.  A heart-wrenching, brutally honest series of photographs emerged from this experience.

Angelo Merendino also discusses how photography became his passion and livelihood, as well as the challenges of life as a young widower.

https://www.mywifesfightwithbreastcancer.com/

Angelo started a non-profit to help current victims of breast cancer.  It is called The Love You Share.  The mission of The Love You Share is to provide financial assistance to breast cancer patients in need while they are receiving treatment.  Its goal is to make life easier, even if only for a short time, for someone who is fighting for life.

https://theloveyoushare.org/

You can view more of Angelo Merendino's photography here:

https://www.angelomerendino.com/


NOTE:  This show transcript is still raw.  Once final edits are made, it will be noted right here in the show notes.

This episode was recorded 10.23.18.  All portions are copyright 2018 Luanne Bole-Becker.