by Sandi Troup, Every1Dies Producer and Breast Cancer Survivor
The year I had my second mastectomy, at only 34 years old, my family set out on a vacation through some of the desert states. We stayed a couple of nights at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in the cute little cabins only steps away from the wondrous views.
Our second night there, there was a massive storm that shook our cabin and howled through the fireplace. We could hear things batting and rattling all around us. The next day we even found wooden shingles had blown off cabin roofs.
I got up early the next morning before dawn to get the sunrise creeping along the walls of the vast canyons. As I waited for my shot, I took note of the trees that lined the very edge. They were twisted and deformed by lightning strikes and strong winds. Clinging to life itself, they somehow survived, as if driven on by an iron will.
One tree in particular caught my eye. It found a foothold in a crack in a rock and grew at a 90 degree angle, twisted along its trunk. I photographed it profusely, thinking of it as a “survivor tree.” Just like I was scarred by my journey, I was carrying on!
(Many of these “survivor” junipers growing along the Grand Canyon rim are 350-700 years old, some even 1,000! Can you believe that?)
I actually sold the black and white version of this photo as a fundraiser for breast cancer. It reminded me of so many women I walked alongside as a facilitator in our group of young women cancer survivors. Some were diagnosed with stage 4 disease as young mothers. Through modern medicine they were able to live long enough to watch their children grow up, but it was a very difficult journey. We talk about the challenges in S6E33: Vibrant Life in the Face of Metastasis: The Human Side of Cancer as a Chronic Illness.
The recent fire at the North Rim had me wondering if this tree survived. I think it did, but it reminds us of the fragility of life, even for these tough old survivors. Sometimes the elements just cannot be overcome. But that does not diminish the strength of the tree’s story – it helps us remember that every day truly is a gift, and live for each moment.
How about you? Do you have a favorite image or metaphor that speaks to you? Please share it with us!
