A dad who has always gifted his daughter a rose on her birthday took his tradition one step further by adding positive “truths” to help support her during her cancer fight.
Rob Blackmon, 65, from Flowood, Mississippi, started his sweet tradition on his daughter Alice’s first birthday, when he gifted her a single pink rose.
Since that moment, Rob has added one additional pink rose every year to match Alice’s age, never missing a year as his daughter went through college, moved out of state and into adult life.
In February 2025, Alice found a lump in her right breast, and because she was deemed too young for her insurance to cover annual mammograms, Alice said that chance discovery happened to save her life.
Alice was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer, and in April of that year she underwent a bilateral double mastectomy, before starting 16 rounds of chemotherapy.
The process was grueling, Alice said, but she stayed determined for her family, who were beside her every step of the way.
That support was amplified on September 22, when Alice, mid-treatment, headed to her parents’ house to celebrate her 36th birthday.
As she walked into the kitchen, Alice, as expected, discovered a vase with 36 pink roses – but there were some new additions.
Around the stem of each rose, Rob had written 36 “truths”: words of love, strength, of their memories, and reminders that his daughter was in the middle of something tough and to keep going.
The wholesome gesture boosted Alice’s spirits, and she later shared a video of her sweet surprise on social media, before completing her chemotherapy in October 2025.
Almost one year after her diagnosis, Alice said she is proud to say she’s cancer-free.
Her father’s tradition has also taken on a new life, as Alice’s husband now presents their daughter with pink roses on her birthday.
Speaking of her birthday surprise, Alice told good news network Happilynews.com said: “Reading those truths while fighting cancer was incredibly special.
“It reminded me that before I was a cancer patient, before I was anything else, I was his daughter.
“It was one of the most thoughtful, grounding, and love-filled gifts I’ve ever received, and it’s something I will carry with me forever.
“The response has been incredibly overwhelming in the best way.
“I shared the moment honestly without expecting it to resonate in the way it did, and the outpouring of love from friends, family, and people on social media has been deeply moving.
“So many people reached out to say it brought them to tears, reminded them of their own parents, or encouraged them to hold their loved ones a little closer and even start the same tradition for their daughters.”
