The Year of Beating Breast Cancer is Here

Robin and I met at the gym when I was still fresh to living in Oregon and needing friends.  I liked her immediately. She’s almost always wearing a smile and she gives amazing hugs.  People are drawn to her.  I was no exception.  But our schedules and life phases were vastly different so for years we’d wave and smile at each other in passing either at the gym or around town or at our daughter’s soccer games.  I always left thinking, “I wish we had time to be closer friends.”

I’ve lived in Newberg now for seven years and thank Jesus daily for the amazing circle of friends He has given me.  Robin and I share a ton of friends – especially running buddies – but somehow managed to never spend extended time together.  We were both looking forward to running Cascade Lakes Relay together this summer and finally getting to know each other deeper.  It was Robin’s 50th birthday present to herself and we were stoked.

Then IT happened.  A lump on her breast. Tests. Waiting. More tests.  A lot of praying. And finally a diagnosis.  Breast cancer. (I HATE cancer.)

We found a sub for Robin and instead of running Cascade Lakes Relay to celebrate fifty years of life, she stayed home with her family to grieve a crappy diagnosis that puts a damper on her fiftieth year of life.

Robin is well loved.  Her family and friends rallied the troops.  They set up a Meal Train. A Go Fund Me account to cover her medical expenses.  And we all started praying.

It’s a helpless feeling to stand by while someone is suffering.  We all want to help.  I wanted to help.  But how?  What could I give?  Then it dawned on me.  Maybe I could take their family photos before chemo took Robin’s hair.

So I texted her and asked.  Turns out the Hergert family was well overdue for professional family photos.  What an honor to be the one to capture this tender moment in their family’s history. The night of their photo session was fun.  We laughed. Cried a smidge.  Even “played the cancer card” (per Robin’s request) to not get kicked off the private property we wanted to use for a few of their photos.

Through all the turmoil, Robin has been so refreshingly honest about how she’s doing and feeling.  Her sense of humor is still in tact and she’s letting us love on and serve her.  That’s hard for someone who is used to taking care of everybody else.

Robin and I never thought cancer would be the glue that finally cemented a friendship between us and neither of would choose that avenue.  But I am so grateful to finally be developing a friendship that’s been a long time in the making.

Robin said,

I simply want to say how grateful we all are.  What a gift it was for you to think of our family and know that if we did not capture that moment before the storm we would not be able to look back and see God’s grace and His hand on us… For the year of beating breast cancer is here and the images you captured are priceless.  Thank you Jodi for such a thoughtful and meaningful gift that my children and their children can look at and reflect on God’s hand on the Hergert family!!!! How joyful and blessed we were before the diagnosis and how blessed we will be after.

Robin, your year of beating breast cancer is here.  You’ve got this. Victory in Jesus.  One day at a time Dear One! And next summer we’ll run Cascade Lakes Relay decked in survivor pink. Go kick some cancer butt! Love you.