Wife Leaves Devastated Husband to Raise 7 Kids Alone after One of Their Sons Gets Cancer

A father's whole world turned upside down when he discovered something heart-wrenching—his beloved son had cancer. Instead of giving up, the man decided to fight for his boy's life, not knowing that soon, he would be ambushed with another shocking revelation.

No parent can bear to see their children in harm's way and would do anything to take their pain away. The mere thought of something happening to their little ones can be a parent's worst nightmare, which was what a father from Shorewood, Illinois, underwent.

Jeffrey "Jeff" Otte had always led a life of honor and service, helping those around him. But one day, he found himself in a quandary and needed help for his beautiful family following his eldest son's heart-shattering diagnosis.

Moreover, only days before his boy's life-saving treatment, the dedicated father discovered something devastating. In the most astonishing and saddening state of affairs, Jeff's wife and the mother of his kids left him alone to deal with the situation.

However, it wasn't her first time battling a health ordeal.

Jeff had never pictured the day he would have to look after his children as a single parent. He was taken aback and shattered, but what choice did he have? He could abandon his kids, just like his wife, or stand by them. Here's what he chose!

The Diagnosis, Heartbreak & Navigating Life as a Single Parent

Jeff worked as a paramedic and firefighter and devoted himself to looking out for others for over a decade. After serving people and saving lives for 11 years, he found himself in a challenging situation one day and desperately needed help and support.

On January 26, 2016, Jeff became a single father, but it wasn't by choice. He was dealt a severe blow merely days before another gut-wrenching discovery changed everything he had once known.

Jeff's eldest son of seven kids, Brandon, was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis or LCH—an extremely rare form of cancer characterized by excess white blood cells accumulating in the body and resulting in tumors.

The lump first appeared in December 2015, after which a neurologist found a tumor above the youngster's eye. When Jeff learned about Brandon's diagnosis, his reaction was a mix of shock, fear, and insurmountable pain. He recounted:

"I was shocked. I was not expecting that."

Although Jeff was shattered to learn about his son's condition, he knew he had to stay strong and keep going. He was already at his lowest when his wife suddenly abandoned him and her kids, choosing a time when her family needed her the most.

Only four days before Brandon was set to undergo the life-saving surgery to remove a tumor from his skull, his mom turned her back on him. Fortunately, the young boy still had his father around, and in the days to follow, Jeff became his son's biggest support.

With his wife out of the picture, the Frankfort firefighter had to look after his seven children alone, who ranged in ages from nine to 18 months at the time.

At the same time, he had to hide the pain he felt every day while seeing his beloved Brandon suffer. "When someone tells you your son has cancer, it was like, shock. Like, just jaw drop," recalled Jeff.

The Illinois single dad shared that he had no close or distant relatives to help him care for the kids except for his sister, Cindy McDorman. The Galesburg woman was glad to step forward and lend a helping hand to her brother.

Jeff's kids—Brandon, Julie, Natalie, Emilie, Callie, Noah, and Benjamin, could not just count on their dad but also their aunt. But shortly afterward, the Ottes experienced another heartache when Aunt Cindy was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2016.

However, it wasn't her first time battling a health ordeal. Cindy had undergone two surgeries to remove aneurysms above her optic nerve—one when she was 21 and the other a few years later when she was two months pregnant.

Brandon saw a warrior in his aunt and requested her to hold his hand while he fought his health battle. After having a double mastectomy, Cindy was said to be in remission and stayed with Brandon for at least a week each month during his weeks-long chemotherapy treatment. She commended her young nephew's strength, courage, and resilience in the face of sheer adversity.

Jeff was relieved to have his sister around, who he said helped out as much as possible. Regarding his role in his kids' lives, the Shorewood dad expressed at the time:

"I've proudly taken on the role of 'Mr. Mom' without directly asking for any assistance. Many people have reached out to me offering assistance, and I'm extremely grateful."

With his sister as his only support, his eldest kid undergoing chemo, and some of his other children having cognitive and developmental conditions, such as autism, Jeff divided his time between home, frequent visits to the doctor, and work.

Despite his terrifying ordeal, Jeff refused to give up, cared for his kids as their mom and dad, and worked tirelessly to provide for them.

Receiving Support from the Community & Surviving the Ordeal

In an online fundraising page started in August 2016, Jeff noted that his son received a 52-week chemotherapy session to cure his cancer. Since being created, the GoFundMe account has garnered $20,965 of the $50,000 goal from 339 donations.

The father of seven asked his community to keep his family in their prayers and requested for financial assistance so he could hire special needs carers for his children while working full-time.

In late December 2016, Jeff, who had been working as a firefighter since 1998, noted that the community outreach and support had been outstanding. He said many groups had stepped forward and surprised his kids with Christmas goodies while making the festive season memorable for them.

The Ottes even received a special holiday trip to Disneyland, California, funded by the "Make-a-Wish Foundation." Jeff's support system gradually expanded, including one of his local churches, which he and his family became members of in September.

Nick Sandeno, the church's pastor, revealed that many families and regular church-goers came forward to help and support the Ottes. In addition to helping with food and childcare, the members were dedicated to finding other ways of easing the Otte family's troubles.

The pastor also admired Jeff for his relentless efforts and unwavering love for his children during an incredibly cumbersome period. Nick appreciated the single dad's patience and kindness and said he had never seen someone endure so much and remain hopeful.

Seven years down the road, Brandon is healthy and cured of cancer, and his family is thriving. They celebrated Easter and shared their joy by posting a heartwarming photo from their time together.

Jeff's oldest boy is all grown up, accomplishing his milestones, and ready to ring in his 16th birthday in October 2023. We hope the Ottes continue to create many beautiful memories and enjoy life in the years to come!

Please keep them in your prayers, and if this story touched your heart, keep us posted with your valuable feedback on Facebook.

Click here to read about a single dad who worked four jobs to feed his family. One day, a stranger showed up to reward him on Father's Day.