Ov,
Great post...and it seems to me the love is real for you two!
There were several good things that came out of this for me. One was I and two others in my family quit smoking back in June when I was Dx. The other is I have never felt so close to my wife as I do now. It's easy to say things like I love you and your my best friend when things are good, but when the going is tough is when you prove the love is real (as you say.
Still thinking good thoughts and prayers for you both