Case. The child received a serious diagnosis. Eighteen months of hospitals, fundraising, protocols. The parents did not fight: they simply stopped talking about anything but treatment.
Model. All system capacity is given to one critical process. Right for the acute phase — but the unpowered “couple” circuit degrades silently: not an explosion, exhaustion.
What helped. Fifteen minutes a day “not about the illness”, and a night-shift rota so each could sleep. Accepting relatives’ help without guilt. After stabilisation — couples counselling.
Lesson. In a long crisis the couple is a patient too. Fifteen minutes a day for “us” is not a luxury — it is life support.