My fiancé, who was the breadwinner, was diagnosed with brain cancer. Where his tumor is located it affects his language reprocessing abilities. He lost both of his parents just before he graduated, with honors so as a writer this has been beyond devastating. I have to emotionally support him, make sure he gets to his numerous appointments, and overall just try to keep him happy. He can do some things but I have to do a lot for him. He no longer drive and has some various neurological issues Being a student and taking care of him often means I’m exhausted. However, I keep going because he was the one who wanted me to finish school when he was diagnosed. He was so afraid I wouldn’t be able to support myself if something happened to him. He does as much as he can to support my schooling but he can’t do all of the things that he used to anymore. He has already had one surgery and will likely have another. This experience has changed everything about both of us. Life just completely turned on its head the second we saw the scan of that tumor. We’ve been together for 20 years and we’re finally getting around to planning a wedding, which is now on hold. He is my best friend and I can’t even describe how much this hurts to see as his partner. I will love and support him always, but it’s so heartbreaking to know the person I was with for so long isn’t the same anymore. To watch him struggle to do things he never had before. It’s the most difficult thing I think either of us have ever had to deal with and we have almost no support system. We are terrified and so incredibly upset. He mostly isolates himself because he’s embarrassed and doesn’t want people to see him unable to do basic tasks. I can’t imagine how difficult that is for him, how difficult everything is for him. Receiving this scholarship would help me to focus while I’m studying and caring for him, and then hopefully one day he will get his dream of watching me walk across the stage and get my degree. I can’t help him how I want to but I can do that for him so I will. And I try to stay positive for him but I am still so terrified about the future that I thought I would share with him. Thank you for your time and for listening.

My goal has always been to learn from every possible source, while also assisting those who are in need of someone to advocate for them. However, I have recently run out of funding with three semesters left. I have no savings, no job and not much hope at the moment. My fiancé who has been the main breadwinner for nearly 18 years now currently has brain cancer. He is still working 50+ hours a week even though we know it’s not sustainable, but we need the money. He went through brain surgery nearly a year and a half ago, and unfortunately the tumors are growing back. I need to finish my degree/s so that I can work at a job that offers insurance. That pays somewhat comparative to his job. That we can both survive on. Because eventually he will not be able to work. If I am not able to find meaningful employment by then we will be in a world of trouble. His parents, and most of his close family, are no longer living. While mine are here, but they continue to disappoint even during a crisis of this nature. My fiancé was a writer, an alumni of Western even. But the tumor was in his speech and language areas. Amazingly he was awake through the procedure, telling them all about his book he’s writing. Since the surgery he’s had mild cognitive issues that affect his ability to write, to do what he loves, and it’s devastating. We wanted to travel, we wanted to have adventures, I had just started planning our wedding- but there isn’t time or money for that anymore. My experience with all of this is so difficult to explain this experience to anyone other than someone who has gone through it themselves. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but we are doing the best we can. Even when we’re both terrified. Right now all I can do is focus on doing the best I can in school so that I can provide for us if or when it comes to that. Beyond that he’s said he wants to know I can take care of myself when he’s gone and by going to school and doing so well he feels less scared for at least that small part of our lives. I have learned how to be stronger than I thought I ever could be, I’ve learned to hide my tears, I’ve learned that every moment with him is so important. I’ve learned who my true friends are, and which family members are truly there for us. But I think most of all I’ve learned how much I love him, how much I want to be with him, and just how devastating the idea of us not growing old together is.