James Van Der Beek Praises Wife Kimberly for Taking Care of Him amid Cancer Diagnosis in Sweet Valentine’s Day Post

James Van Der Beek is spending another Valentine’s Day with his wife and sweetheart Kimberly — but this time, he's even more grateful for her love and support.

The Dawson’s Creek alum, 47, took to Instagram on Feb. 14 to praise his wife for taking care of him amid his recent cancer diagnosis. The post features a carousel of photos showing the couple in a warm embrace. 

“I remember our first #valentinesday… waking up early in that apartment in New York to quietly dec it out with cheap drugstore decorations I’d bought,” the actor recalled in the caption. “All I wanted to do was take care of you. I never once thought there’d come a time when I’d need you to take care of me. But have you ever.”

Related: Who Is James Van Der Beek's Wife? All About Kimberly Van Der Beek

“I’d like to say I chose my Valentine wisely. But I didn’t have any choice,” he continued. “I was a goner from the moment you interrupted me mid-sentence telling a friend I was ready to meet the real deal.”

He added: “@vanderkimberly thank you for being on this Earth. Thank you for sticking by me. And thank you for being a guiding light in the lives of everyone lucky enough to know you. I’ll fall for you a million times over. Happy Valentine’s Day"

Related: James Van Der Beek Doesn't Let His Kids Watch Dawson's Creek: They Don't Need to See 'Their Dad Pretend to Go Through Puberty'

On Nov. 3, 2024, PEOPLE broke the news that Van Der Beek had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer, per the American Cancer Society, starts in the colon or the rectum, which make up the large intestine in the digestive system.

"I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” the star said in a statement at the time. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good."

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, the Varsity Blues actor opened up about his life since receiving the news at age 46.

“I’m never the person who asked for any help — ever. It’s not in my DNA," he said at the time. "And I thought that was a fine way to be until cancer. The way friends showed up was such a beautiful experience — and I would never have otherwise seen how much people care about me."

Related: James Van Der Beek Sells Past Movie Merch to Help Families with 'the Financial Burden of Cancer — Including My Own'

The Dawson’s Creek alum first crossed paths with Kimberly on a trip to Israel in 2009. Just a year later, the couple had a baby on the way and returned to the country to wed in an intimate ceremony in August 2010.

Today, they share six kids: daughters Olivia, 14;  Annabel, 11; Emilia, 8; and Gwendolyn, 6; and sons Joshua, 12 and Jeremiah, 2.

With each addition to their family, the father-of-six has said their love has grown. “We have watched our lives change with each kid,” he told PEOPLE in 2019.

Kimberly has also been supportive of Van Der Beek amid his cancer journey, writing "“I love you baby ♥️” beside his post announcing the news.

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Amid the diagnosis, Van Der Beek continues to work as an actor. In December, he stripped down alongside Anthony Anderson, Taye Diggs, Chris Jones, Tyler Posey and Bruno Tonioli for a good cause.

The famous friends hosted a two-hour Fox special called The Real Full Monty, to raise awareness for prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer testing and research. Van Der Beek also starred in the Tubi original film Sidelined: The QB and Me and in one episode of Walker last year.

Read the original article on People