Carson Daly lost his biological father to cancer when he was just 5-years-old. Although he’s still been busy with his “Today Show” duties amid the pandemic, he, like so many of us, found himself at home with extra time on his hands. While passing time at home, he’s been taking a trip down memory lane and recreating family photos of his late father.
In a recent “Today Show” segement, Carson and his sister Quinn shared a family project they’ve been working on, where they recreate photos using a green screen. In one photo, Daly honored his father James “J.D.” Daly, who passed away from bladder cancer when Carson was just 5-years-old.
Read More“I have so few shared experiences with him, it’s like a powerful moment,” Daly says. “For me it was just cool putting on the UCLA sweatshirt because I have so few things that connect me to my biological father,” he said. “To be able to re-create that photo was really cool. That dichotomy I see in Dad’s face when I look at that picture. I don’t know if he’s running from fear or head into it.”
While Daly lost his father at such a young age, clearly he’s making new memories with his children.
Cancer Survivors Creating New Family Memories
For many cancer survivors, the opportunity to make new memories with their family are one of the most gratifying experiences after completing treatment.
For Todd Rosenbluth, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in his 20’s, he and his wife struggled to conceive following his cancer treatment. Even though doctors tried to assure Todd that his disease had nothing to do with fertility, he admitted that he couldn’t help but feel some guilt. However, after a few tries, Todd and his wife were able to conceive and welcomed a new addition to their family in 2018 their beautiful son Milo.
Cancer survivor Todd Rosenbluth welcomed a new addition to his family after treatment
While Rosenbluth was able to grow his family, stage four melanoma survivor Steve Silverstein was able to create a very special moment with his daughters. At the time of his diagnosis he had two teenage daughters, and he admitted that he couldn’t stop thinking about the possibility that he wouldn’t be able to watch them grow up especially since his disease had spread to his liver.
Thankfully, Silverstein was able to beat the odds and his treatment proved to be successful. Even better is that now a 15-year cancer survivor, he was able to see both of his daughters get married and dance with them on their wedding days.
“When I think about the whole process, I think the word perspective is critical perspective in your diagnosis, perspective and your treatment option that you’re going to pursue, prospective in how you deal with your family, and just get that broader view that sense of the bigger picture,” Silverstein says.
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