My husband is my second spouse--I was widowed young. We were also high school sweethearts, reunited in our forties and now married over 25 years! A year ago I was diagnosed with a rare NET in my breast. It was very difficult to get in to see experts, difficult to get a pathology report, almost impossible to get scans, difficult to get any sort of understandable treatment plan, difficult to deal with co-morbities, insurance, appointments...etc. He is a wonderful guy, but the real reason I'm writing is that he came up with an an amazing idea:
We wrote a contract just as this was starting.
We each privately wrote what we could do for the other. Then we met, and shared. Then he wrote the whole thing up and we signed it. Pretty unique! The items were a bit personal and idiosyncratic. For example, we both promised to take care of ourselves emotionally and socially. I promised to not just descend into nihilism, as is my wont. Some things were practical. Some more on the "I'm here for you" level. The greatest part was to see and understand what I could do for him, incapacitated as I was. This is a great question--am loving the answers. Thank you!