Life becomes more precious when you realize how precarious it is. Joy is celebrating the milestones of life. Hope means making plans in spite of your experience. In 2010, Randall Munroe's fiancée (now wife) was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. Even after treatment, the only way to know if you beat it is to go on living.
In 2012, we posted an update as they were celebrating two years cancer-free. It was a relief after following their story for so long. That comic is the part in lighter ink. Now he has an update on the story at xkcd. Seven years is good.