"The holiday is around the corner, and what do you want for Christmas? All I really care about is I just want you to get healthy. I just want your body to stop causing you so much pain, and I want you to be excited about the clothes that you're wearing and the way that your body looks and feels, and to feel like you're back in the driver's seat of your life. And if I can give that to her, that's more than anything I could ever have hoped to get for my wife in her entire life. And so that's why, that's why I keep going." —Timothy James Piper

Some days ask more of a relationship than anyone ever planned for, and the weight of it can land in quiet places. Chronic illness has a way of changing routines, stretching patience, and shifting the small details that once felt effortless. This conversation sits inside that reality and explores what love looks like when the body rewrites the rules.

In this episode, Donna's husband, James, opens up about the slow, unclear unraveling that led to her diagnoses and how those moments reshaped their marriage. His story traces confusion, fear, tenderness, and the unexpected growth that comes from caregiving in real time.

Press play for a conversation that tells the truth without losing hope.

Key topics:

• The early signs of chronic illness that made no sense at the time

• How physical changes impact identity and self-perception

• The emotional load partners carry behind the scenes

• The fear, grief, and loyalty woven into caregiving

• Intimacy shifts and how couples adjust

• Practical support during flares, crashes, and unpredictable days

• What this journey taught them about love, acceptance, and long-haul commitment

Connect with Donna:

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper

Episode Highlights:

04:03 A Husband's Honest Perspective

08:53 Unselfish Support: It's a "We" Thing

25:55 Shared Struggles: Navigating Relationship Challenges

32:21 The Caregiver's Emotional Rollercoaster

44:59 When Healthcare Fails: Navigating Costs and Coverage

49:14 How Has Chronic Illness Changed the Caregiver

58:39 The Best Gift

Resources:

🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I'd love to hear from you!

Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to [email protected], and you just might hear your answer on the show.