Standing By His Side: Supporting Phillip's Cancer Journey

My name is Ellen, and about four years ago, a simple Facebook message to my high school crush blossomed into a love story that has profoundly shaped my life. Fast forward to March 2025, when a persistent backache, something Phillip might normally shrug off given his work on cars, became undeniably different. It wouldn't subside. After some gentle urging, I convinced him to go to the emergency room for X-rays. Two ER visits later, as we anxiously awaited the results of an MRI, a doctor entered the room and closed the door behind her. Her expression was one of grave concern, bordering on fear. My mind immediately jumped to the realm of the manageable – a compression fracture, perhaps, and the arduous journey of physical therapy that would follow. But the words that followed shattered my carefully constructed reality. "We believe you have multiple myeloma." Cancer. Blood cancer. The doctor continued to speak, but her words became a distant hum as I fled the room, collapsing in the hallway. I eventually found my way back to that sterile hospital room, my gaze fixed on the man I love more than life itself – the capable, strong person who always seemed invincible. As I walked in, his eyes, already glistening with tears, met mine. "It's going to be okay," he said, and then, with a characteristic flash of his spirit, he cracked a cheesy joke that managed to elicit a weak smile from me and the doctor. That's Phillip. An extraordinary soul, and the man I am meant to spend my life with.

In that moment, everything irrevocably changed. Phillip didn't leave the hospital that day. I returned home alone to face the daunting silence of the next three weeks. He underwent a battery of tests, his condition steadily worsening. By mid-April, walking unaided became a struggle, and he now relies on a walker or wheelchair. A round of radiation followed, leaving him with side effects I wouldn't wish on anyone. Now, he is home with me, but his independence has been stolen. My days are now filled with administering medications, preparing his meals, assisting with his most basic needs, and being his constant support. He is on leave from his job, a job he loves and misses deeply. My own work has become secondary to his care.

Our cancer journey is far from over. In the coming month or so, he will begin his first round of chemotherapy, a treatment that will likely continue for a long and uncertain period. Adding to this immense burden is the crushing reality of our lack of health insurance. The medical bills have already reached an astronomical $100,000, a figure that feels impossible to comprehend, let alone repay.

Yet, beyond the staggering financial strain, the hardest part is the relentless day-to-day struggle. We have a home and everyday bills to manage, on top of the mounting costs of his prescriptions and medical supplies. We are facing an overwhelming uncertainty about how we can possibly navigate this.

This is why I am reaching out. It wasn't an easy decision, and it took us time to come to terms with needing help. Neither of us are comfortable asking. However, the immense stress of this situation is a tangible threat to Phillip's treatment and his ability to heal. His focus needs to be solely on recovery, not on the terrifying prospect of losing our home while fighting for his life.

So, I humbly ask for any support you might be able to offer. Phillip is an incredible human being who deserves so much more than this. But this is our reality, and I am determined to do everything in my power to make things better. He is my world, and without him, I would be utterly lost. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for taking the time to read our story and for any kindness you can extend.