The Bachelorette’s Trista Sutter reveals husband Ryan has been battling mystery illness for months

Original The Bachelorette star Trista Sutter has revealed that her husband Ryan has been battling a mystery illness.

The 48-year-old reality star took to her Instagram on Saturday to share a snap of her husband since 2003 with a lengthy caption documenting his medical fight.

She wrote of her 46-year-old partner: ‘This week is usually one of my favorites. Creating memories with family, honoring traditions, filling our bellies with the tastiest of treats, and recognizing our blessings. I wrote a book on gratitude after all. It’s for that reason, though, that I haven’t posted. 

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 ‘I know I should be thankful, but I don’t want to be fake. And, I’m struggling. This guy…my rock, my best friend, my hero, my love…is struggling. Not everyday, and not to the point that he can’t work or cook or exercise or be with family, but enough. We’ve been struggling for months. Struggling to get answers.’

Though it remains unclear what ails Ryan, the couple did receive a bit of encouraging news.

Sutter wrote: ‘And this week, we got an answer that would normally be the best answer of all good answers. We found out that Ryan doesn’t have cancer. 

‘A HUGE relief…without a doubt, especially after fighting to find a doctor to take symptoms that lined up with lymphoma seriously and advocating for the scans to rule it out. But part of us was wanting a diagnosis. Wanting to be able to fight for him to be cured instead of fighting for an answer.’

She went on to express gratitude for her life but was also realistic about her frustrations regarding the process. 

Trista shared: ‘How messed up is that? Don’t worry, I know. It’s messed up. But, that’s where we are. In a holding pattern of not knowing. And believe me…I know it could be worse, so for that, I am thankful. 

‘Thankful to not have to be separated from a loved one who is dying due to COVID. Thankful to not have 2 children with a cancer diagnosis. Thankful to have each other and health insurance and jobs and a home and food on the table and healthy family members and all the things that make this life struggle-free. But if I’m not posting or answering emails or emotional or disconnected, please remember that everyone is struggling in some way, behind closed doors.’

The Bachelorette star said despite the tough process, she is going to remain hopeful. 

She concluded: ‘We are young-ish and blessed, but not immune. We lived a fairy tale on TV and have a great life for all intents and purposes, but answers would be nice. So, I’m going to keep praying for answers and am hopeful that if you are the praying type, that you’ll think of Ryan when the time comes to send up a message.’

This was not the couple’s first scary medical incident as Trista suffered a seizure in Croatia during a European trip in June 2017.

At the time she posted a picture after coming out of hospital captioned: ‘Behind the lens of a camera, I look to capture joy in a precious moment and hold onto it. It’s one of my favorite things.

‘In Europe, I was given a gift. It certainly didn’t feel like a gift at the time, but I’ve since come to realize that with my seizure brought the gift of awareness and perspective. Just as I look to find joy through a camera lens, I need to remind myself to find joy through the lens of my everyday life, and lately it’s been tough.

‘With the pain of a brutal sinus infection to contend with, I’ve allowed fear to lessen that gift and turn my focus to the negativity and pain. So, I want to apologize. To my husband. To my kids. To my friends. To myself. Let this be a reminder that you are blessed with each breath and heartbeat. You are allowed to be sad and scared. You’re human.

‘You are not allowed, however, to wallow and waste away your days on the worst case scenarios. Life is beautiful. Enjoy it and those who make it worth living, while you have the chance. One day, chances will run out. Just do your best to make sure that when they do, the smiles outweigh the sadness.’

The duo first met on season one of the ABC hit series The Bachelorette; Trista was chosen to be the Bachelorette after she was the runner up in The Bachelor season one. 

Season one of The Bachelorette premiered in January 2003 and concluded the following month, with Trista choosing Ryan as the winner.

The lovebirds married on December 6, 2003 in Santa Monica, California as they currently reside in Vail, Colorado.

They are parents to two children together: son Maxwell, 13, and daughter Blakesley, 11.