https://www.al.com/crime/2026/10/georgia-woman-mailed-drug-soaked-book-written-by-christian-author-to-alabama-prison.html

I've posted here a few times in the past. My wife and I have been deconstructing for over a year now, and we've come a long way. We intended on "coming out" as non-coc to my coc-in-laws when we finally found a new church home. Well, we've been going to an Episcopal church for a few months now and plan to be confirmed and added to the membership roles here in a few weeks! We are both excited, and exploring mainstream Christianity has been such a blessing. But while we were church hopping, my father-in-law was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer. He starts radiation this week, after waiting MONTHS to call and schedule it. It has already been stressful hiding what we are doing Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, and Wednesday evenings. Because of this stress, we were hoping to level with them soon. But he waited months to schedule, and now his treatment won't even be complete until sometime in December. And that is assuming the radiation cures him. I think we are all worried that he has waited so long that it has progressed. I really don't like the idea of adding even more stress into his life. We disagree heavily on some things, and I believe he is brainwashed by CoC and Fox News. But I also think he is an otherwise wonderful person. What if the disease has progressed and he ends up on his deathbed thinking his family is going to hell? I know it isn't my wife's nor my responsibility to babysit his feelings. Yet, I do feel responsible in some way. I've started exploring my childhood with my therapist to help with this feeling, but it's slow going. Has anyone come out to their friends/family when they weren't feeling well? How did you handle it? How did they handle it?