Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek’s wife Jean Trebek has penned a moving new essay, revealing about the moment she knew something was ‘off’ before finding out in 2014 about his stage four pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
Jean, 56, wrote in a blog post for Guideposts, detailing how they noticed a color change in Alex, 80, while on vacation in Israel.
‘We went to Israel in December 2018 to visit the sites of the Holy Land, and our son and daughter, Matthew and Emily, then 27 and 24, took over,’ she revealed. ‘We were done eating one night, and I looked across the table at Alex. Its color shone off. “Do you feel okay?” I asked.
Touch: Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek’s wife Jean has written moving essay on how she knew something was ‘off’ for his diagnosis of cancer, for Guideposts
Jean reveals that despite Alex saying he was fine – and declaring that he ‘is never one to complain’ – the stomach problems still persisted and they performed some tests with doctors when they were home in California.
After hearing from doctors back that there were ‘some worries’, the couple – who have been married since 1990 – suddenly made a short trip to New York where they were on.
She then describes the moment back in LA at Cedars-Sinai hopsital, the doctor revealed that Alex had stage four pancreatic cancer, with a tumor that had spread to the soft lining of his stomach.
‘It felt like the bottom was falling out of my world. Wer. Alex has been everything to me. I met him when I was 21, a challenging period in my life. His friendship – we were friends for a long time before he became a couple – changed my life. ‘
Host with the most: Alex is bravely fighting over stage with four cancers in the pancreas, and recently released his memoir ‘The Answer is …: Reflections on My Life’
Jean then goes on to detail how her first friendship with the Jeopardy! host helped her through one of the most painful experiences of her life – losing her older brother Chris, who was killed in a car accident in 1987.
‘Now, almost 35 years later, came this gross diagnosis. All the terrible pain and loss that I felt at Chris’ death came back. Only my trust in the ultimate goodness and love of God had gained me through that period of my life. ‘
She adds, ‘Then I met Alex, as if the Lord were leading me through my sorrow to the man I would love forever. I could not imagine my life without him. Could I accept this diagnosis? Could my faith support me now? Could I be strong for Alex and myself? ‘
Jean said she started asking how long they had as a couple after he started receiving chemotherapy, but writes, ‘More than a year and a half later we are still there, every day a gift.’
Support system: Jean reveals how she changed her husband’s diet into a more vegetarian style and if he gave him protein shakes in the morning while she continued to care for him
The legendary TV host has never missed ‘his carpet of the show’ since his diagnosis, and Jean says getting up at 05.45 in the morning to the studio to ‘rejuvenate’ him.
Now, Jean says the whole family is doing their best to stay positive. She has shifted Alex’s diet to more vegetarian foods, including quinoa pasta that he likes. Because of the effects of the chemo, he will often lose his appetite and Jean will give him a protein shake in the morning.
Jean reveals that she eats one big meal a day at 5 o’clock, ‘Then we’ll see Jeopardy!’ she writes, adding: ‘Of course he knows most of the answers, but he never tells me! Sometimes I play together like any other fan. And I’m a big fan. ‘
However, there are test times where Jean speaks that the situation can become difficult for her.
‘To tell the truth, some days I feel really sad and angry. Then I will say, “That’s enough, Jean.” I’ll try to do something for someone else to get me out. Not just for Alex, but for one of our friends. ‘
‘Send a reassuring email, call someone, share a cup of tea. Open me up. Accept what happens. Thankfully, I already started with insidewink.com, a lifestyle website, and my blog on the site is a way to share our journey with others. ‘
Meanwhile, Alex recently released his memoir ‘The Answer is …: Reflections on My Life’, revealing that he has already survived a car accident, two heart attacks and brain surgery.
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