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Austin Roest is reflecting on a difficult time.
The NHL prospect recently shared his girlfriend Milly Okabe, 22, has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
“Milly, I don’t even know what to say,” Roest, also 22, wrote in a Sept. 4 Instagram post featuring her in a hospital bed. “I am so sorry this is happening to you. No one deserves to go through this. That being said, I have no doubt in my mind you will beat cancer. You are the strongest person I know and I know you will overcome everything that comes your way over the next year.”
And as the Nashville Predators sixth-round pick emphasized, Okabe is surrounded by support during her journey.
“I love you so much and I will be right there with you through all of this,” he continued. “We have also started a GoFundMe to help support Milly and her family during this difficult time.”
Okabe also shared her perspective on her health journey, noting that she’s counting on her loved ones.
“There’s a lot of fear of the unknown,” she wrote in her own Instagram post, “but what I do know is that I am extremely lucky in this life to have friends that are family, and a family that loves me this hard.”
Echoing that fundraising efforts will help support her and her family, Okabe went to share her appreciation.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me in any way,” she concluded. “I’m so extremely grateful.”
Over the years, Roest and Okabe—who began dating in 2023—have shared rare glimpses into their life together, detailing the impact they’ve had on each other.
“We were 19 in some of these, now we’re 22,” Okabe captioned a January Instagram post, “happy birthday, many more with you.”
For more who’ve opened up about their cancer journeys, keep reading…
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