Howie and Laurel embrace. The couple, married for 34 years, never imagined they would have been diagnosed with stage-4 cancer at the same time
For most families, coping with one cancer diagnosis is a struggle, but Howie and Laurel Borowick found out they were both facing the disease at the same time.
Their daughter Nancy chronicled the couple's progress as they began their treatments and continually swapped roles from carer and patient, husband and wife.
The intimate series of photos by the New York photographer capture the exhaustion and low points, as well as moments of joy - including when they both walked Nancy down the aisle at her wedding. Howie and Laurel, who had been married for 34 years, could never have imaged they would both be diagnosed with stage-4 cancer at the same time. Laurel was told she had breast cancer for the third time and Howie, pancreatic cancer. As they embarked on their exhausting chemotherapy treatment, Nancy captured their progress, from the trips to the medical center where the couple took it in turns to drive, while one slept in the backseat, to the 'his and hers' chairs where the drugs were administered.
She was also there for the more intimate moments - a loving kiss from Laurel waking her husband from a nap, or Howie shaving his wife's hair off before it falls out. The images can be seen at Nancy Borowick's website. Most importantly, Nancy was able to be photographed with her parents at her wedding in October. She had brought her wedding to Kyle Grimm forward by a year after her parents' doctor told her she shouldn't waste a moment. On the day, Nancy set up her camera so it could be set off remotely, and catch every step of the wedding procession. Howie Borowick lost his fight was cancer at the age of 58 earlier this month. He is survived by Laurel and his three children, Nancy, Jessica and Matthew. His son-in-law Paul Flach is running the Berlin Marathon to raise money for the Institute of Cancer Research in his memory, and also in memory of his own father, Adrien. Donations can be made at Just Giving.
Laurel and Howie walk their daughter down the aisle at her wedding in October
On the eve of their next round of treatments the couple take a last-minute trip to Naples, Florida
The couple wear matching medical bracelets that chart their treatment, as they dance between roles of patient, carer, husband and wife
Weak from his chemotherapy, Howie floats in the warm waters of a Florida pool
Knowing that it will soon fall out, Laurel lets her husband cut her hair late one evening
After countless chemotherapy sessions and having a breast removed, it seemed unfair when Laurel started losing her hair as she began fighting cancer for the third time in February
At Manhattan's Rodolfo Valentin Salon Laurel is fitted for a new wig after given away her old ones from previous bouts of cancer
The place where they have chemotherapy sessions is half an hour away and the couple take it in turns to drive and rest depending on who is being treated
Howie calls these 'his and hers' chairs as he sits beside Laurel for their weekly chemotherapy treatment
The couple share a quiet moment alone in their kitchen after a long day of treatment
Howie breaks into a dance to try to get a smile out of his wife in February
Laurel wakes her husband with a loving kiss as he takes an afternoon nap after being left exhausted by his chemotherapy
Howie and Laurel sit in their bathroom as they hear the latest news from their oncologist. Both had good scans and their tumors were found to be shrinking
Treatment leaves Howie exhausted on most days, so he is often found napping in various rooms around the house, including the living room where he is joined by his daughter's puppy
Family and friends celebrate Howie's 58th birthday - a milestone he didn't think he would make when diagnosed with metastatic inoperable pancreatic cancer six months earlier
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