Cheryl Strayed, the bestselling author of Wild, has announced that her husband Brian Lindstrom has been diagnosed with a serious, fatal illness. The 57-year-old writer shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram on April 30, stating that she would be canceling upcoming workshops and events to focus on her family.
"My apologies to those of you who made plans to be there," Strayed wrote. "I simply cannot do anything but be with my family right now and see to our broken hearts. I ask that you hold us in your thoughts, prayers, light, and love."
The author of Tiny Beautiful Things also addressed her podcast, Mind Over Mountain, explaining that previously recorded episodes would continue to air, but she acknowledged the emotional dissonance of posting cheerful clips during such a difficult time.
Strayed and Lindstrom, a filmmaker, have been married for 25 years and share two children. In past interviews, Strayed has often credited Lindstrom as her unwavering supporter. "There's no doing it without him," she told The Great Discontent in 2012. "He believed in me more than I believed in myself."
The couple met in 1995, shortly after Strayed's transformative hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, which she chronicled in Wild. In a 2022 Instagram post, she recalled writing in her journal: "I met a man named Brian Lindstrom last night. I don't know who he is, but I think he'll be someone to me."