Finding Joy After Cancer
- “Little Couple” stars Dr. Jen Arnold and her husband Bill Klein shared some laughs while she did something for the first time: eat sardines!
- Arnold is a cancer survivor, and the sweet video shows that she is not letting her cancer journey stop her from living a full life.
- Arnold was diagnosed with stage 3 choriocarcinoma, a type of rare cancer that forms in the uterus where a fetus develops, according to the National Library of Medicine.
- Many cancer warriors often gain a renewed outlook on life after a cancer diagnosis. They tend to find gratitude for the activities and loved ones in their lives.
TLC’s "Little Couple" star and cancer survivor Jen Arnold, 49, has done something she’s never done before on a Spanish vacation with her loving husband and she shared a sweet video of the unforgettable moment.
With humor, she’s showing other cancer survivors that you can absolutely go on to live a full and fun life after facing the disease.
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Arnold and her husband, Bill Klein, are taking in some rest and relaxation while vacationing in Spain. The two had gone out to dinner and Arnold's quest for some chips led her to make an accidental food order.
"I accidentally ordered sardines. I saw the potato chips, which I had been craving … and I didn't realize they came with sardines," she said.
In a sweet video, Bill shares laughs with his wife as she tried the small fish for the first time. As Arnold hesitantly holds the fish to her mouth, she prepares herself to take a bite.
A few chews and curious facial expressions later, she uttered, "Wow, that was really good!"
Arnold is best known for starring on TLC's "Little Couple" reality TV show. The program shows how the couple raises a family of adopted children and navigates life as little people with dwarfism.
Arnold and Klein have skeletal dysplasia, a bone-growth condition, according to Cleveland Clinic. An adult person with dwarfism is under 4 feet, 10 inches tall.
During the television program, Arnold was diagnosed with stage 3 choriocarcinoma, a type of rare cancer that forms in the uterus where a fetus develops, according to the National Library of Medicine. This type of cancer can occur from an abnormal pregnancy.
"The one time I get pregnant, I get cancer," Arnold told People.
Arnold went on to have surgery and chemotherapy. She and Klein are now raising their beautiful children in New England.
Power of Positivity During Cancer Battle
Finding Joy and Gratitude After Cancer, Like Jen Arnold
Although Jen Arnold and her husband Bill Klein faced obstacles in their life and relationship like cancer and changes to parenthood plans they overcame them and seemingly came out stronger.
Now the family lives in harmony and as their recent Instagram video suggests, they've found joy after Arnold's cancer journey.
"The luckiest mom in the world," Arnold said in an Instagram caption for family photos that included her own mother.
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Just because you've been diagnosed with cancer, it does not have to stop you from enjoying life. Arnold shares many joyful photos of her children and family on social media, proving she's not letting a diagnosis take control of her life.
This trip to Madrid with Klein is just the latest example of her getting out and exploring everything life has to offer.
Many cancer warriors often gain a renewed outlook on life after a cancer diagnosis. They tend to find gratitude for the activities and loved ones in their lives.
Gratitude, simply put, is being thankful for what you have and showing appreciation for it. It's a mindset that helps people going through tough times and our SurvivorNet experts encourage cancer warriors and their loved ones to practice gratitude.
We all know battling cancer or disease can be extremely stressful. If you're able to find things that you are grateful for can help manage the stress. Stress and anxiety can lead to physical issues, and practicing gratitude can help get both under control.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, multiple studies have indicated that learning to live with gratitude can lead to more happiness and less stress.
One way to exercise gratitude is to take time to think about things you appreciate every day. Something else people can do is write down those things in a journal.
WATCH: Living with gratitude.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you’re battling cancer or on the other side of it, and you’re struggling with your outlook on life, here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor to get the conversation started:
- What can I do if I'm struggling to be thankful for what I have in my life?
- Are there local resources for people wishing to improve their mental health?
- What else can I do to help reduce my stress level during my cancer journey?
- It’s difficult for me to find happiness and joy. How can I find help?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.