Newlyweds Matt and Danielle Fontanesi were on their way back to their home country when Mr Fontanesi fell violently ill with a serious fever. Photo / Supplied
Newlyweds Matt and Danielle Fontanesi were on their way back to their home country when Mr Fontanesi fell violently ill with a serious fever. Photo / Supplied
It was meant to be the most exciting time of their lives - however a newly married couple who set off on their honeymoon had to put their lives together on hold.
Wellington-based newlyweds Matt and Danielle Fontanesi both 34, were on their way back to their home country, the United States when Mr Fontanesi fell violently ill with a serious fever in August.
He was admitted to the hospital and two days later, diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer - Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
Danielle and Matt Fontanesi on their honeymoon. Photo / Supplied
Mrs Fontanesi described the diagnosis as "devastating".
"There are no words to describe the pain of watching the person you love more than anything in this world struggle for his life," she wrote on their GoFundMe page.
Mr Fontanesi was now in a San Diego hospital receiving chemotherapy.
With only a few weeks worth of clothes in their suitcases, the couple's savings account, or known as the "baby fund" was "quickly depleting".
"...we have no belongings in the US except the 3 weeks' worth of clothes in our suitcases and a few things friends and family have given us," Mrs Fontanesi wrote on her blog.
Danielle Fontanesi has stood by her husband's side. Photo / Supplied
Both did not have disability insurance as they didn't think they would need it.
"Well, we're young and fit and healthy and strong and we never imagined we'd find ourselves in this position," she said.
The pair have also created a blog to keep family and other sympathetic followers updated on Mr Fontanesi's progress.
Mr Fontanesi didn't seem to have lost his sense of humour, with the title of the blog stating, "My chemo abs had better be amazing. Beating the s**t out of this cancer. One day at a time".
The couple plan on returning to New Zealand when Matt is well enough to return. Photo / Supplied
He also wrote an update for the blog, and in it, sounded up-beat and optimistic.
"I want to say that I'm 100 per cent confident that I will beat this. AML is not a death sentence for most people and it won't be for me.
"I'm young and strong, I have an amazing wife sleeping by my side and caring for me day and night, and I have a huge support network looking out for me.
"Thank you all for being a part of that support network," he wrote.
The pair both hoped to come back to New Zealand to live, a place they have called home for four years.
The couple at their wedding. Photo / Supplied
But they would be unable to move back for at least another six months.
"We've been told it will be at least a year before Matt's able to work again, and I need to be his full time caretaker for the next six months," she wrote.
Mr Fontanesi is now set to face 100 days of isolation, a period in which he had to avoid getting sick as his new immune system started to grow, media reported.
