Miranda McKeonwalked into her New York City apartment to find her dad, who had been staying with her overnight, heading out the door.
“He was like, ‘Oh, you caught me. I’m just going out to get some ice cream from Trader Joe’s. Do you want to come with me?’ " McKeon recalls him asking in the moment.
At first, McKeon thought it was strange. She couldn’t understand why her dad, who lives in New Jersey, would want to go to Trader Joe’s for ice cream when her neighborhood is full of delicious spots. Nonetheless, the influencer decided to join him on the adventure and headed out the door.
Miranda McKeon and her dad at Trader Joe’s.Miranda McKeon
Miranda McKeon
But as soon as they walked into the store, McKeon noticed her dad quickly heading toward the flower aisle.
He said, “I think we should pick out a bouquet together to celebrate three years cancer-free,” McKeon, who was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma in June 2021 at 19 years old, tells PEOPLE, adding that she immediately started crying.
“He said, ‘You’ve been through so much, I’m so proud of you. It’s been such a crazy ride. You’re an incredible woman,’ " she adds. “He’s always been amazing about offering positive verbal affirmation, and he’s very expressive, whether it’s writing me a card or telling me straight to my face. That moment was so special.”
Miranda McKeon’s dad at Trader Joe’s.Miranda McKeon
After being diagnosed with breast cancer, McKeon, who was going into her sophomore year at the University of Southern California at the time, underwent eight rounds of chemo, a double mastectomy and 25 rounds of radiation. As a result, she lost her hair and struggled with her identity, she says.
As a result, McKeon, who now records everything, didn’t think twice. After she and her dad shared a nice embrace, which included some tears, they started going through the bouquets, and she pulled her phone out. “I was like, ‘This is so special. I want to remember this forever,’ " she says.
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Miranda McKeon in Trader Joe’s while her dad picks out flowers.Miranda McKeon
“I think it’s shown me how I want to pick a partner and how I want to raise my own children and the ways that I want to make them feel loved,” she continues. “My dad puts so much intention into his relationship with me, my brother, and my mom that it makes me think more critically about my own family structure as I move into a new phase of life, which is exploring what I want that to look like for myself.”
Reflecting on being three years cancer-free, McKeon says it feels surreal.
“On one hand, I feel like going through treatment was yesterday, but on the other hand, I have so many days where I don’t even think about having cancer, and I never thought I would reach that point.”
“I really thought it was going to be consuming my every waking thought for the rest of my life, but I feel really free, and I think that’s what feels the most real about it,” she adds. “I do feel lighter and farther from the experience.”
“I just know I’m going to have a really big life, and that excites me,” she continues. “I feel like I’m in a period of exploring and searching, as a lot of these newly post-grad communities are. I don’t know what that looks like yet, but I’m just excited for the grandiosity of it all and to continue meeting new people and forming relationships. I think that’s what is the absolute most important thing in life. It’s like your family, your people, whether your friends or your chosen family. Those relationships are everything, and that’s where we will find the most joy.”
source: people.com
