On the popular reality television series Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, the road to domestic bliss was rocky for David Foster. The famed music producer and his wife Yolanda struggled in the wake of the diagnosis that she had been suffering from Lyme Disease since 2012. A painful, debilitating condition, the disease attacks the central nervous system. In December 2015, the couple announced their intent to divorce after four years of marriage.
A serious health condition can dramatically alter a marital dynamic. According to Baltimore divorce lawyers, an ill spouse must come to terms with his or her own limitations, at a time when they no longer feel like themselves or have the energy to lead the life they are used to leading. A healthy spouse must compensate for that loss, accepting responsibility for a greater share of household duties or assuming a larger role in childrearing than formerly necessary. While providing care for their ill spouse, a healthy spouse may foster feelings of resentment and hostility. An ill spouse, in turn, can feel emotionally abandoned by their partner.
Such a situation is only compounded when a spouse who has fallen ill was also a financial contributor to their marriage. A two-income household suddenly and unexpectedly reduced to a single income household can put pressure on a healthy spouse to provide for his or her family. Moreover, the longer a sick spouse is unable to work, the greater the financial strain on the entire family unit.
According to a report by the Iowa State University, a serious illness – such as cancer, lung disease or heart disease – can increase the likelihood of divorce by as much as six percent. Moreover, statistics show that relationships are most in jeopardy when a wife has fallen ill. According to researchers, there is no corresponding increase in divorce rates when a husband becomes sick.
Baltimore Divorce Lawyers at the Law Offices of Allyson B. Goldscher, LLC Represent Clients in All Phases of Divorce
Some marriages will emerge from a serious illness stronger than ever, but many will not. If, at the end of your health crisis, you no longer feel your marriage can be saved, our Baltimore divorce lawyers at the Law Offices of Allyson B. Goldscher, LLC can help. Call 410-602-9522 or contact us online to make an appointment for a consultation at our offices.
