When we first started dreaming of a getaway just for us—a trip without kids, without responsibilities, without the weight of what we’d been through—it was hard to even imagine what that might look like. Cancer had pulled us into survival mode, both financially and emotionally, and coming out of that took time. But as the dust settled and our lives started to feel more like ours again, one idea kept surfacing: Portugal.

Why Portugal?
Maybe it was the allure of sun-soaked vineyards and sweeping ocean views. Maybe it was the promise of winding through cobblestone streets, hand in hand, without worrying about doctor’s appointments, bills, or the next crisis. Or maybe it was just the need to escape somewhere beautiful after fighting so hard to get here.

Portugal felt right. It felt like a fresh start—a place where we could pause, take a breath, and remember that our story didn’t end when cancer entered the picture. It was where we wanted to reclaim a bit of joy, and we knew that if we were going to take this trip, we’d do it right.

Financial Recovery: A Journey in Itself
The road to recovery wasn’t just about health. Cancer had drained our savings, stretched us thin, and forced us to make tough choices. We’d always valued travel, but during treatment, it wasn’t even a question. Instead, it was about getting through each day and making sure our family was okay.

Once the hospital visits were fewer, and the bills stopped piling up, we started to slowly put the pieces back together. Budgeting became more intentional. We cut out what we didn’t need, saved when we could, and gradually began to see our financial stability return.

When we finally had the means to plan a trip, it felt surreal. Booking those tickets was more than just planning a vacation—it was reclaiming a part of our life we thought cancer had stolen.

The Trip Itself: Finding Ourselves Again
From our first morning sipping espresso on a sunny Lisbon terrace, we found ourselves unwinding in a way we hadn’t in years. We took long walks with nowhere in particular to go, watched the sunset with a glass of wine in hand, and lingered over plates of fresh seafood. There was no rush, no agenda—just us, breathing and being, rediscovering how to enjoy each other’s company.

Walking up hill after hill, stair after stair, to reach the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, we reached the top and I couldn’t help but think of all we’d been through. One year earlier, I couldn’t even walk the length of a parking lot after chemo tore my body apart. Tears came unexpectedly—not sad, not happy, just full. Full of everything we’d survived, everything we’d built back up, and everything that still lay ahead.

What Portugal Gave Us
In many ways, that trip was a bridge between the hard past and the hopeful future. It reminded us that life didn’t stop when cancer hit—it just changed. And we had changed, too. There was something healing about seeing beauty again, about tasting new things, and about being able to just laugh without the weight of worry.

It’s easy to say that travel is an escape, but for us, Portugal was more of a return. A return to dreaming, to living fully, to being us—stronger, maybe a little scarred, but still whole.

If you’re looking for a place to rediscover yourself, or to just breathe again, I can’t recommend Portugal enough. There’s a quiet strength in its landscapes and a resilience in its people that resonates. For us, it was exactly what we needed to remember how far we’d come and how much life there still is to live.

Final Thoughts
Sometimes, moving forward means allowing yourself to enjoy the present. Portugal gave us that space to just be, to celebrate where we are now, and to remember that after all the storms, the sun does come out again.