Tutu Project shows marriage bonds help fight cancer

The Tutu Project is a testament to how marriages can sometimes go well despite the challenges they face throughout the years.

In marriage, you are usually in it for the good and the bad that come along the way.

Most couples, however, do not face as much bad as Bob and Linda Carey have faced during her battle with breast cancer. Over the past few years, Linda has gone in and out of remission, all the while having her devoted husband by her side.

In an interview with Matt Lauer on the Today show on May 24, 2012, Bob and Linda spoke candidly of how they have been able to stick together, despite having the odds stacked against them.

Social support during an illness such as cancer is vital in healing along the way. Cancer impacts a marriage at many levels, including the connection shared between partners during the medical visits and ongoing treatment.

Instead of letting cancer defeat them, Bob and Linda have been united in fighting their illness together through breathtaking moments captured through The Tutu Project.

In 2003, Bob suggested he wanted to start a collection of photos of himself wearing a pink tutu. Linda, being the ever supportive wife of an artist, went along with the idea. Years later, the two have quite the collection of photos to share, commemorating her journey over the past few years.

Using humor to get through the many treatments and questionable blood tests, the two have managed to get through Linda’s breast cancer together with The Tutu Project. While they do not know what tomorrow hold, they do not they have each other to lean on.

Emotional support from a partner or spouse can really make the difference in a patient’s ability to heal and survive cancer.

What if you are not sure how to support your partner during these times? Here are a few suggestions:

Offer to help them with daily chores.
Read to them when they are feeling down but would like to spend time with you.
Share a new hobby. Maybe your partner used to like mountain climbing or some other activity that was physical in nature and now they can’t muster up the energy for it. Well, find something new they can try instead. In Miami, for instance, there are many parks and local beaches that offer a host of activities for a variety of interests!

How would you show your partner you support them during a physical or psychological illness? Visit ‘The Tutu Project’ here to see Bob and Linda’s photos over the years. Connect with Bob and Linda on Facebook.

Source: TodayHealth

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