A Houston-based musician fell hard for his now-wife, then had his heart broken by a devastating diagnosis. Today, even mesothelioma can’t stop this love story.
Christian and Alexis Kidd have the kind of unbreakable bond that most people dream of. Their story started when Alexis asked Christian for help with her scooter and unfolded over 20 years as they weathered difficulties and experienced profound joy together.
“When my sweetheart and I first met, it really was a dream come true. I was smitten by her beautiful smile and conversation. We took it slow. We had our first conversations talking on Sunday evenings.”
– Christian Kidd
One major challenge came in the summer of 2007 when Alexis was diagnosed with mesothelioma at just 37 years old. At that time, she and Christian had been together less than a year.
Mesothelioma is incredibly rare — especially in younger women. Neither Alexis nor her doctors had any idea how she was exposed to asbestos (the only known cause of this cancer). Still, she bravely fought mesothelioma with Christian by her side and is now a long-term survivor.
In his own words below, Christian shares his experience navigating Alexis’s unexpected diagnosis, the challenges and questions that came from it, and how he would do anything he could to support the love of his life.
Discovering the Unthinkable
Within our first year together, Alexis woke up in the middle of the night with pain in her side. She decided to try to sleep it off, but at 6 a.m., she agreed to go to the hospital. I offered to call an ambulance to get her there quickly and safely, but she declined — suggesting that she ride on the back of my scooter. So off we went.
After a few hours of waiting, I was called into an office. The doctors didn’t have an immediate diagnosis and kept Alexis for additional monitoring. I visited her every day until, eventually, she was released with an appointment scheduled a few days later.
During her follow-up appointment, the doctor said he didn’t want to make the wrong diagnosis and had sent the biopsy out to several other hospitals for a second opinion.
At her next appointment, the doctor said he noticed some objects that looked like rice on the outside of her diaphragm and lung. This time it was diagnosed as peritoneal mesothelioma.
Learn more about how Christian, Alexis, and other patients and families navigated life with this cancer in our Free Mesothelioma Survivors Guide.
Facing the Challenges Together
After we received Alexis’s diagnosis, the search for a mesothelioma specialist was on. The first hospital we met with decided not to take her case — they felt it was too dire. Apparently, they thought she should just sit out the situation because she wouldn’t survive it.
Through no fault of her own, Alexis lost her job and with it, her health insurance. We then had to deal with hospitals and doctors who wouldn’t agree to see her because she had no health insurance. Our attempt to get health insurance was rejected — she was denied because of having a pre-existing condition.
If you have also had a doctor turn you away, or you want to find the best specialist for your case, we can help. Our Free Doctor Match service will connect you with a mesothelioma specialist and help ensure you get the care you deserve.
Eventually, we found hope through Dr. Henry Zaleski, an oncologist at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston. He even agreed to have us on a payment plan since Alexis didn’t have health insurance.
Juggling the Financial Stress
Alexis had a portion of her diaphragm and lower lung on the right side removed. To this day, she still feels pain from the surgery. She underwent months of chemotherapy and suffered through post-operative psychosis. It was rough watching her suffer, especially when we had so many great things planned. But at least we were together.
Months after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, Alexis became very ill at work. A coworker drove her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with heart arrhythmia. Later, the diagnoses grew to include thyroid cancer and Bell’s palsy. It was becoming a juggling act for us in more ways than one.
I tried creating a GoFundMe page to help pay for our mounting medical expenses. I also contacted a bar and scheduled a fundraiser.
No mesothelioma patient should struggle to afford the care they need. You deserve treatment, even if you don’t have health insurance or can’t find a doctor. Our team can evaluate your situation and offer financial solutions during a Free Case Review.
Moments of Light Amid the Darkness
Alexis didn’t feel I should be with someone in her condition, but I persisted in being by her side. I proposed to her, and she accepted.
I entered a competition, complete with multiple essays, for an organization called Wish Upon A Wedding. I was then notified that I’d won — the organizers were awarding us a free wedding. I showed the letter to Alexis, who was brought to tears.
We set a date for the wedding, then spent the next few months meeting with vendors that were donating their services for us: a printer, a florist, a caterer, a videographer, and a baker.
Alexis was still at St. Luke’s undergoing chemotherapy while planning our wedding. I’d get off work and spend evenings by her side.
An old friend of Alexis’s officiated the wedding, and another friend offered to do her hair and makeup. This inner circle of support that Alexis chose to share this day with made it more magical. I even had a few friends gatecrash the event.
I was delighted with the shots the photographer took of our wedding. It gave us the privilege to be happy after what Alexis had been through leading up to this day.
Our videographer made a wedding video for us, starting with footage of us driving our scooters. They dimmed the lights, and the introduction was so sad — it rolled with statistics of how many people survive the first year after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Then the year after, and so on. It ended with saying Alexis was still alive because of being in love with me.
Find Support in the Face of a Diagnosis
If you saw something of yourself or a loved one in Christian’s story, know you are not alone. The Mesothelioma Hope team can help you navigate the challenges of mesothelioma so you can live life as fully as possible.
We can help you:
- Find a doctor to treat you (and not turn you away)
- Connect with support groups and a compassionate community
- Determine how to pay for treatment, even if you don’t have insurance
Contact our team anytime by calling (866) 608-8933 or filling out our contact form.