The Family Imprint

Book excerpt: When Photojournalist Nancy Borowick's parents--Howie and Laurel--were diagnosed with stage IV cancer and simultaneously underwent treatment, she did the only thing she knew how--she documented it. By turning the camera on her family's life during this most intimate time, Borowick learned a great deal about herself, family, and relationships in general. She discovered that her parents' marriage--while complex--was an intricate symbiosis of compassion. Their partnership and sense of family only deepened. And no matter the prognosis, there was always room for laughter. Today, Borowick, herself, is married. Her father passed away in 2013, and her mom followed suit, 364 days later. The lessons she garnered from Howie and Laurel were plentiful: always call when the airplane lands, never pass on blueberry pie--and most importantly, family is love and love is family.