During Cancer, My Wife & Daughter Left Me. Years Later, They Returned For $8m Inheritance, But…

The Diagnosis and the Drift

My wife and daughter abandoned me during my illness. Years later, they returned to claim my house, but let me start with the beginning. Firstly, I was diagnosed with late-stage Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which came as a shock. I had always been active, ate well, and diligently kept up with my yearly checkups at the doctor’s office.

The oncologist informed me that the exact causes of cancer were still uncertain, but there was a small chance of survival with rigorous chemotherapy. I was determined to fight for my life. After receiving my diagnosis, I sat down with my wife of 15 years, Janet, and our teenage daughter, Layla, to break the news to them. They were devastated, understandably, but I reassured them that I would do my utmost to combat the disease.

However, I couldn’t help but worry about how this would affect our family dynamics. The doctor had warned me that the chemotherapy would be debilitating, and he mentioned that many marriages don’t survive such treatments. Later that night, I expressed my concerns to my wife. She assured me that she would stand by me through sickness and do everything in her power to support me.

The Reality of Treatment

We were financially stable thanks to my good insurance, sizable savings, and a trust fund from my late grandfather. Our house was fully paid off, and I had set aside money for Layla’s college education in case anything happened to me. A week later, I started chemotherapy, and it was incredibly taxing. I returned home feeling utterly drained, as if I had been hit by a freight train.

I could barely manage to feed myself, let alone perform basic tasks like bathing or walking. My wife and daughter stepped up to help me, taking care of meals, housework, driving me to chemo appointments, and ensuring my prescriptions were filled. I tried not to burden them too much and did what I could when I had the energy. This went on for two grueling months.

However, I began to notice signs of agitation from my wife and daughter. There was a growing reluctance whenever I asked for their assistance. Even my daughter stopped responding when I requested something as simple as a glass of water or help getting some fresh air.

The Breaking Point

Things reached a breaking point when I had an early chemo appointment one day. I realized I was running late, and my wife had not yet come down from our room. I called up to check on her, and she wearily suggested I take an Uber to the hospital because she was tired.

I was shocked by her response, but not knowing what else to do, I called for an Uber and also contacted the hospital to request assistance as my wife wouldn’t be there to support me. Fortunately, my Uber driver was incredibly kind and ensured I safely reached the hospital. She even offered to drive me back home after my treatment.

I was grateful, but it was disheartening to rely on the kindness of strangers. When I returned home that day, the situation had taken a troubling turn. After a few hours of rest, I mustered the courage to confront my wife and daughter about their recent behavior.

The Confrontation

I had noticed a distinct chill in their demeanor lately, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. I asked them if they felt like I had become a burden on them. My wife, with a heavy sigh, admitted that they were feeling overwhelmed. My daughter timidly chimed in, saying she hadn’t expected me to be so needy and demanding during my illness.

I decided it was time to discuss possible solutions. I suggested the idea of hiring a nurse who could come in a few days a week to assist me with daily tasks and take me to my chemotherapy sessions. To make things easier, I ordered a wheelchair, anticipating that there would be days when I’d be too weak to walk or even talk. To my relief, they agreed to this proposal.

I contacted the hospital for recommendations, and they sent me a nurse who was both sweet and stern. She made sure I never missed a chemo appointment, ensured I received my medication on time, and even crafted a comprehensive care plan that included healthy meals.

Rising Tensions

Everything seemed to be improving as the doctors were pleased with my progress. However, despite my efforts to ease their burden, my wife and daughter still didn’t seem content. My wife, in particular, began feeling as though the nurse was replacing her.

I suggested that if she was willing to take on the responsibilities of taking me to chemo, filling prescriptions, and ensuring I ate and took my medication on time, we could part ways with the nurse. The only reason I had a nurse was that I had become too much for my wife to handle, and she reluctantly agreed to this compromise.

She asked if we could find a male nurse instead, but I explained that there were none on the hospital’s recommended list. The nurse we had was chosen for her experience with cancer patients and her understanding of my specific needs. She was meticulous, attentive, and highly respectful towards both my wife and daughter. I made it clear that the only way the nurse would be replaced was if my wife and daughter were willing to shoulder her responsibilities.