When we opened Alyson’s letter, we expected something heartfelt — but not this. At only 18, she shared a story that left us shaken, then enraged, and finally moved to quiet applause.

Her story isn’t just about loss. It’s about betrayal, resilience, and a bold moment of truth that no one saw coming.

At the heart of it was a family torn apart by a father’s long-standing infidelity.

A man who, when his wife was diagnosed with terminal brain can.cer, didn’t just betray her again — he abandoned her completely.

“I didn’t think I’d ever write something like this,” Alyson began. “But maybe sharing it will help someone feel less alone. Or maybe it’s just my way of making sure my mom’s voice doesn’t disappear with her.”

Alyson and her sister, Emma, had grown up believing their father, Rick, was a charming, lovable man. He was funny, social, and the life of every gathering.

But behind closed doors, he had a secret life. Their mother, Donna — warm, gentle, and endlessly patient — held the family together despite the cracks.

Then came the diagnosis: Stage 4 brain can.cer.