Do you think someone like Dwyane Wade will ever consider anything as a struggle? For a man who’s conquered the NBA’s greatest challenges, his toughest battle came off the court. It was when he heard the words “Stage 1 cancer.” On January 31, Wade revealed that in December 2023, doctors removed 40% of his kidney after discovering a cancerous tumor. “It’s a scary thing to face…” he admitted, calling it the “weakest” moment of his life. It was, unsurprisingly, a shocking piece of news for the NBA world. But what scared him the most?

The past year tested Wade and his wife, Gabrielle Union, in ways they never expected. Looking back, Union admitted that their ninth year of marriage was one of their hardest. “Year nine was very hard,” she shared, later revealing that Wade’s health battle was a major reason. But despite everything, he remained optimistic. A few weeks ago, Union assured fans that he was doing well. “Good now,” she said, even joking that his love for going shirtless proved he was back to full health. Wade himself confirmed this by posting a confident, shirtless photo on Instagram—letting the world know he was now alright.

However, it is only now that Wade opened up about how he had the shocking discovery of his cancer. His diagnosis came as a shock. “I felt strong my whole life,” he recalled. He had pushed his body through grueling seasons, always feeling invincible. However, after both his father and grandfather battled prostate cancer, he decided to get checked. “I was like, okay, well, this is probably a part of my genetics and my history. Let me go get checked out.” That decision may have saved Dwyane Wade’s life. And what came out?

A scan revealed something in his kidney. “You could hear uncertainty in the doctor’s voice,” he said. At first, they weren’t sure if it was cancerous. But after seeing a third doctor, he got the truth. “We will not know unless we go in and have surgery,” the doctor told him. That’s when fear set in. “Now I’m scared,” Wade admitted.

Through it all, his family became his biggest support system. Wade had always been the strong one, but this time, he leaned on them. “No one in my family has ever really experienced me being weak,” he shared. He is now just trying to live his life to the fullest with his loved ones.

Gabrielle Union finds strength in Dwyane Wade

Well, the feelings of reliance are mutual when it comes to the couple. Have you ever thought you’d healed from something, only for it to come rushing back when you least expect it? That’s exactly what happened to Gabrielle Union. For years, she carried the weight of a traumatic past, believing she had found peace. But while working on Truth Be Told, old wounds reopened in a way she never saw coming.

The show’s storyline, which highlights the exploitation of young Black and Brown girls, struck a painful nerve. Even worse, she had to film in the same courthouse where she once testified. The emotions hit hard. “Something in me just broke. Completely broke.”

Despite all the healing she had done, she found herself unraveling. “I’m a very controlled person, and I was going home every day crying to my husband.” That’s where Dwyane Wade stepped in—not just as her partner, but as her rock. He didn’t try to fix things. He just listened, held space, and reminded her she wasn’t alone. “There are just a lot of days when I have 10%, and I need him to be 90.”

Letting go of control wasn’t easy. Even something as practical as finances stirred up anxiety. But Wade encouraged her to trust the process. “Now, did I settle on about 35% of the mortgage instead of 50? Sure. But you know—I’m trying.”

At the heart of it all, this wasn’t about money. It was about learning to be vulnerable. “I’m okay as his wife. I’m okay in this home. I deserve it.” Healing isn’t always about being strong alone. Sometimes, it’s about knowing who you can lean on.