3 Years Later, Cancer Survivors Recreate Their Viral Photo, And The Difference Is Striking

Back in 2014, photographer Lora Scantling captured three young girls fighting cancer. Now, 3 years later, the girls have reunited for a new photo, and they’re stronger and healthier than ever!

Scantling’s father was losing his fight to lung cancer, so she wanted to do something “that spoke a thousand words that would draw emotion”. She chose childhood cancer because her friend had lost her son to cancer earlier. “I put a post out on Facebook seeking little girls who were fighting cancer, and the portrait was born!” she said. Then 3-year-old Rylie, 6-year-old Rheann, and 4-year-old Ainsley did not know each other until the photo shoot, yet they became instant friends. The 2014 photo captured the three girls hugging and showing support to each other, and it went viral on social media. Now, the 2017 photo is just as emotional. It shows the three girls, which are now all cancer-free, looking healthier and stronger than ever, and holding a gold ribbon, which represents childhood cancer awareness. “Cancer is like a dragon,” Rheann said. “Yeah, and chemo is the prince,” Ainsley responded. Rylie added: “Cancer messed with the wrong princesses!”

More info: Facebook | scantlingphotography.com (h/t: huffingtonpost)

Back in 2014, photographer Lora Scantling captured three young girls fighting cancer

3 Years Later, Cancer Survivors Recreate Their Viral Photo, And The Difference Is Striking

Image credits: Scantling Photography

Now, 3 years later, the girls have reunited for a new photo, and they’re stronger and healthier than ever

3 Years Later, Cancer Survivors Recreate Their Viral Photo, And The Difference Is Striking

Image credits: Scantling Photography

Scantling’s father was losing his fight to lung cancer, so she wanted to do something “that spoke a thousand words that would draw emotion”

3 Years Later, Cancer Survivors Recreate Their Viral Photo, And The Difference Is Striking

Image credits: Scantling Photography

“I put a post out on Facebook seeking little girls who were fighting cancer, and the portrait was born!”

Image credits: Scantling Photography

Rylie (3), Rheann (6) and Ainsley (4) didn’t know each other until the photo shoot, yet they became instant friends

3 Years Later, Cancer Survivors Recreate Their Viral Photo, And The Difference Is Striking

Image credits: Scantling Photography

The most recent photo of the girls is just as emotional as the one taken 3 years ago

Image credits: Scantling Photography

Except now all three girls are cancer-free and healthier than ever

3 Years Later, Cancer Survivors Recreate Their Viral Photo, And The Difference Is Striking

Image credits: Scantling Photography

“Cancer is like a dragon,” Rheann said

3 Years Later, Cancer Survivors Recreate Their Viral Photo, And The Difference Is Striking

Image credits: Scantling Photography

“Yeah, and chemo is the prince,” Ainsley responded

3 Years Later, Cancer Survivors Recreate Their Viral Photo, And The Difference Is Striking

Image credits: Scantling Photography

Rylie added: “Cancer messed with the wrong princesses!”

3 Years Later, Cancer Survivors Recreate Their Viral Photo, And The Difference Is Striking

Image credits: Scantling Photography

Greta is a Photo Editor-in-Chief at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication.In 2016, she graduated from Digital Advertising courses where she had an opportunity to meet and learn from industry professionals. In the same year, she started working at Bored Panda as a photo editor.Greta is a coffeeholic and cannot survive a day without 5 cups of coffee... and her cute, big-eared dog.Her biggest open secret: she is a gamer with a giant gaming backlog.

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Brigitte 7 years ago

Cancer is such a b***h. It's hard to believe the girl in the middle, Rheann, is cancer free and stronger and healthier than ever. She looks so weak, she can't even open her eyes all the way. Cancer really took a toll on her little body. I hope her sick days are over forever.

56points

Tóth Zsófia Anna 7 years ago

'Though all the girls are cancer-free, Rheann still has some tangible traces of her disease. She cannot grow hair due to her earlier radiation treatment and will likely always have eyes that droop because of her brain tumor’s location.'

44points

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Mick and Lee 7 years ago

And it doesn't look like she's grown at all in those 3 years. Poor thing.

10points

Amanda Scott 7 years ago

I don't know the real story, but I think she may be blind... it looks that way as she's not focussing on the camera at all...

1point

Lulu te 7 years ago

Oh god who's cutting onions here?!

8points

Chechta Jedenáct 7 years ago

but... but... one of them is still ill, obviously...

7points

i_know_im_amazing 7 years ago

But the cancer is gone. Her body can still be recovering, but the cancer is now gone

22points

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Brigitte 7 years ago

56points

Tóth Zsófia Anna 7 years ago

44points

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Mick and Lee 7 years ago

And it doesn't look like she's grown at all in those 3 years. Poor thing.

10points

Amanda Scott 7 years ago

I don't know the real story, but I think she may be blind... it looks that way as she's not focussing on the camera at all...

1point

Lulu te 7 years ago

Oh god who's cutting onions here?!

8points

Chechta Jedenáct 7 years ago

but... but... one of them is still ill, obviously...

7points

i_know_im_amazing 7 years ago

But the cancer is gone. Her body can still be recovering, but the cancer is now gone

22points

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3 Years Later, Cancer Survivors Recreate Their Viral Photo, And The Difference Is Striking

Back in 2014, photographer Lora Scantling captured three young girls fighting cancer

Now, 3 years later, the girls have reunited for a new photo, and they’re stronger and healthier than ever

Scantling’s father was losing his fight to lung cancer, so she wanted to do something “that spoke a thousand words that would draw emotion”

“I put a post out on Facebook seeking little girls who were fighting cancer, and the portrait was born!”

Rylie (3), Rheann (6) and Ainsley (4) didn’t know each other until the photo shoot, yet they became instant friends

The most recent photo of the girls is just as emotional as the one taken 3 years ago

Except now all three girls are cancer-free and healthier than ever

“Cancer is like a dragon,” Rheann said

“Yeah, and chemo is the prince,” Ainsley responded

Rylie added: “Cancer messed with the wrong princesses!”

Games

Greta Jaruševičiūtė

Greta Jaruševičiūtė

3 Years Later, Cancer Survivors Recreate Their Viral Photo, And The Difference Is Striking

Back in 2014, photographer Lora Scantling captured three young girls fighting cancer

Now, 3 years later, the girls have reunited for a new photo, and they’re stronger and healthier than ever

Scantling’s father was losing his fight to lung cancer, so she wanted to do something “that spoke a thousand words that would draw emotion”

“I put a post out on Facebook seeking little girls who were fighting cancer, and the portrait was born!”

Share icon

Rylie (3), Rheann (6) and Ainsley (4) didn’t know each other until the photo shoot, yet they became instant friends

The most recent photo of the girls is just as emotional as the one taken 3 years ago

Share icon

Except now all three girls are cancer-free and healthier than ever

“Cancer is like a dragon,” Rheann said

“Yeah, and chemo is the prince,” Ainsley responded

Rylie added: “Cancer messed with the wrong princesses!”

Games

Greta Jaruševičiūtė

Greta Jaruševičiūtė