Hi Heather,

When I graduated college last Spring my boyfriend dropped out. He was unable to continue college because he had to begin seeking help for a medical condition that left him without the ability to attend class and stay on top of his studies. In short, his condition doesn’t allow him to eat without nausea or exert himself physically without vomiting and because of this he is often in pain, always low on energy, and simply not able to perform the kind of work a college education requires.

What we had originally hoped would be completed in a couple months has been repeatedly dragged out as we dealt with finding health insurance (his parents dropped him off of theirs when he made the decision to leave college and not move back in with them), and then being referred from his clinic to one specialist after another.

With loan payments coming soon he is waiting on another referral to another specialist and has been told that specialist will likely have to perform a series of surgeries. He has tried to find a job but every interview he goes to they turn him away and tell him to come back when he is out of the hospital for good.

Up to now we have been living with my parents and I have been paying our expenses as necessary (rent, phone bills, etc.) but I don’t feel that his student loans are something I should shoulder for him. I would love to consider spending my life with him and I don’t want to see him default and ruin his credit score. Are there any options available for him?