Published Sep 30, 2020

Shared Loss Brought Model Jordyn Woods Closer to New Boyfriend; Her Dad Passed From Cancer & His Mom From COVID-19

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From Loss to Love

Model Jordyn Woods says she and her new boyfriend were able to bond in their mutual loss; both lost parents as young adults.
Woods lost her father in 2017, two weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer.
Her boyfriend, Karl-Anthony Towns, lost his mother in April due to complications from COVID-19.

Model Jordyn Woods, 23, has a new man in her life, but their bond was born out of unfortunate circumstances. Losing a parent to cancer is a devastating experience, but Woods has found a way to open a new chapter in her life.

In an interview with Extra, Woods discussed her relationship with boyfriend and NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns, 24, who she’s been showing off to the world through loved-up and affectionate Instagram photos. According to Woods, they’ve been friends for years, but got closer after having tough conversations about each losing a parent at a very young age.

Woods lost her father, John Woods, in 2017 after just two weeks of being diagnosed with an undisclosed cancer. In a tribute to him, Woods revealed that by the time he was diagnosed it was “too late” for successful treatment. Towns lost his mother, Jacqueline Towns, in April due to complications from COVID-19. Despite the hardship, Towns and Woods were able to cope with both their tragedies and start a new chapter.

“I just think that when you find the right one, you can learn even more about yourselfâ€¦ It's about learning to evolve with someone,” Woods says. “The right person will bring a lot out of you. We have been friends for a long time. Naturally, we both connected about losing a parent at a very young ageâ€¦ so it was a very organic relationship that we’d been best friends for a while."

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I found you, then I found meðŸ¤
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Finding Support During a Cancer Battle

Support is necessary during a cancer battle, but that doesn’t mean family members impacted by the disease should neglect their own emotional health. If you’re a cancer caregiver, it can be an overwhelming experience because you’re taking a lot on your shoulders. However, like your loved one, remember to find pockets of joy during the journey.

“In some ways [cancer] can bring people together, it can make you much stronger, or it can weaken a relationship," Breast cancer survivor Melissa Berry tells SurvivorNet.

It’s absolutely OK to mourn after watching someone you care about succumb to cancer, and it’s important to know that “moving on” isn’t always necessary. For Doug Wendt, who lost his wife Alice to ovarian cancer, says the tough conversations with his late wife made him realize how important planning for the future is.

"We're never gonna move on, I don't even think I want to move on, but I do want to move forward," Doug tells SurvivorNet. "That's an important distinction and I encourage anybody who goes through this journey as a caregiver and then has to face loss, to think very carefully about how to move forward."

Doug Wendt, who lost his wife to ovarian cancer, talks moving forward after losing a loved one

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