“In sickness and health became real for us”: Sharon’s Caregiver Story

Sharon and Zachery had been married for 38 years when they received life-changing news: Zachery had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Now, two years later, Zachery and Sharon are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, leaning on their faith and each other.

This month, HealthTree Foundation is sharing your stories of caregiving and celebrating caregivers for National Family Caregiver Month in November.

Becoming a caregiver is a big change

Sharon shared with HealthTree the changes being a caregiver brought to her life. 

My name is Sharon Connor and my husband Zachery Connor was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in October 2023. We just celebrated 40 years of marriage on November 2, 2025, and I have spent the last two years as his caregiver. It is a role that I was not prepared for or ever expected to be. 

The vow we made “In sickness and in health” became real for us. Caregiving has taught me that my life isn’t always about me, and that you never know what you can handle until you have to handle it. And boy, I can handle a lot, so I’ve learned.

I’ll never forget when we got the phone call from the oncologist telling us that my husband had multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. I was left speechless, hopeless, and in despair. I felt like he had been given a death sentence. Even though we had no idea what multiple myeloma was, just the mention of a blood cancer sent me spinning with questions of how, when, and why. 

In prayer, God gave me the scripture John 11:4: this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. That is the scripture I say to myself whenever those thoughts come.

Finding support and community as a caregiver

The most meaningful part of my caregiving journey has been the support from Prisma Cancer Center Institute via our social worker, family, friends, church members, and coworkers with prayers, meals, monetary gifts, and words of encouragement. And our newly added support from HealthTree.

I wish others knew how difficult being a caregiver is. Not only do you have to take care of the patient, you have to take care of the house, sometimes other family members, yourself, and maybe even still hold down a job. The hardest part to me is remembering to take care of myself. Sometimes I feel like the Eveready Bunny (I keep going and going and going). I got so caught up in taking care of everything and everybody else that I forgot about Me. I even forgot what to do for self-care, and I’m in the self-care business. 

Don’t forget about you. Living life must go on!

Zachery also shared with HealthTree how Sharon has helped him through his multiple myeloma diagnosis.

God gave me Sharon because He knew I needed her to be there to be strong so I could bear it when I was weak. I needed her to stand by my side, always saying, “You got this, you can beat this, now eat that salad!” 

Sharon’s diligent research and guidance with my food choices also helped speed up my recovery, and I am grateful for that.

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