Trips to Trader Joe's are typically part of the mundane--minus the chaos of the parking lots. But one dad made an average grocery shopping trip to TJ's one that his daughter will never forget. Actress Miranda McKeon (@miranda.mckeon) shared a touching video of herself spending time with her dad, Paul, who pulled off an epic surprise for her at Trader Joe's to celebrate a major milestone in her cancer remission.
"POV your dad insisted on going to Trader Joe's because he 'really wanted ice cream' at 9pm (I suggested 5 other places we could get REAL ice cream but he was like 'no no no we need to go to Trader Joe's'," she wrote in the video. "When we walked in, we went straight to the flower section and said, 'I thought we could pick some out together to celebrate tomorrow...you're three years cancer-free'. I sobbed."
The video shows Miranda and her dad standing in front of the flower section at Trader Joe's, where her dad starts picking out bouquets for her. She continued, "We hugged. He told me he was proud of me. I was so shocked that he knew and cried the whole way through TJs. I'm so grateful for him."
Miranda shared more details in the post's caption. "he bought me five little bouquets of flowers and I’m still crying watching this back😭😭😭," she wrote. In the comment section, she also added, "him saying “how about all of them?” With five bouquets in his hand has me 😭😭😭."
Love GIF by Jessica LauGiphy
McKeon shared more about her battle with being diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer at just 19 years old with PEOPLE. In May 2021, she felt a jellybean-sized lump in her right breast. After going to the doctor and undergoing an ultrasound and biopsy, she was officially diagnosed.
Over the next seven months, she underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy that started in July 2021, a double mastectomy and 25 sessions of radiation. "My family bolstered me throughout, [and on] days where I felt like I was completely melting or falling apart," she told the publication, adding that the treatments took a heavy toll on her body. "As a person who likes to push myself to my limits, that really crushed me. All I wanted to do was lie in bed, but everything hurt the most when I was dormant — so I really had to push myself."
Breast Cancer Pink GIF by B. Loves PlatesGiphy
Since February 2022, she has been cancer-free. “There’s so much good happening in my life as a result of all the hardship,” McKeon, who is now 22, said. “I’ve become acutely aware of the time that we have on this earth — and that’s something that I’m so grateful for.”
The sweet video got an emotional response from viewers. "most men are dads but he is a FATHER 🥹🤍 happy 3 years lovey so happy for you!" one wrote. Another commented, "Are we all crying now? That’s true love 😭❤️Congratulations!!! You did it!" And another added, "I love a dad with a surprise plan! Such a sweet and ‘stealthy’ way to celebrate you x happy 3 years angel ✨"
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