Life throws curveballs at us sometimes, and when it does, we have to step up and be there for the people who matter most. That's exactly what Dancing With the Stars pro Witney Carson is doing. In an emotional announcement, Witney revealed she's stepping away from the DWTS winter tour to focus on a deeply personal family matter.

Witney Opens Up About Her Family's Heartbreaking Battle

On Wednesday, December 13, Witney took to Instagram to share the news with her fans. It's not just any decision—it's one born out of love and responsibility. Her father-in-law, who has been battling pancreatic cancer for over a year and a half, is now facing a critical turning point in his health journey. The situation took a sudden and unexpected turn, leaving Witney and her family blindsided.

View this post on Instagram
My sweet father-in-law has been dealing with pancreatic cancer for the last year and a half. A few days ago he was having stomach issues & was unable to keep anything down. His doctors decided to do an exploratory surgery to find the problem, which we thought was just a minor issue. Unfortunately, we were completely wrong. The cancer has spread throughout his entire abdomen. We are so blindsided and still in shock… The doctors have explained there is nothing that they can do and have told us that we only have a few weeks with him before the cancer takes his life. After much heartache and discussion, Kevin has decided to fight it and try another aggressive chemotherapy treatment. My heart hurts to tell you all that I will not be able to do the DWTS tour this winter. This is an extraordinarily difficult time for us, I hope all of you can understand that my place is here with my family. Right now, my focus needs to be on my family & especially on my husband. I want to wish my partner, Frankie, and the whole tour an amazing run. I love my fans & I feel so devastated that I can't be there, but know that my heart is there with you ❤️
Read also:
Oprahs Introduction To Auntie Annes Pretzels A Story From Ava Duvernay
A post shared by Witney Carson McAllister (@witneycarson) on Dec 13, 2017 at 12:52pm PST

Her Emotional Message to Fans

Witney went on to explain the gravity of the situation in her heartfelt Instagram post. "My sweet father-in-law has been dealing with pancreatic cancer for the last year and a half," she wrote. "A few days ago, he was having stomach issues and was unable to keep anything down. His doctors decided to do an exploratory surgery to find the problem, which we thought was just a minor issue. Unfortunately, we were completely wrong." The news only got harder from there. The cancer had spread throughout his abdomen, leaving doctors with no options for treatment. "We are so blindsided and still in shock," she continued. "The doctors have explained there is nothing that they can do and have told us that we only have a few weeks with him before the cancer takes his life." Despite the overwhelming heartache, Witney shared that her father-in-law, Kevin, has chosen to fight the disease with another aggressive round of chemotherapy.

Putting Family First

With such a heavy burden weighing on her heart, Witney knew where her priorities lay. "My heart hurts to tell you all that I will not be able to do the DWTS tour this winter," she admitted. "This is an extraordinarily difficult time for us, and I hope all of you can understand that my place is here with my family. Right now, my focus needs to be on my family and especially on my husband." Witney expressed her love and gratitude for her fans, but acknowledged that her absence from the tour is necessary. "I want to wish my partner, Frankie [Muniz], and the whole tour an amazing run. I love my fans, and I feel so devastated that I can't be there, but know that my heart is there with you," she concluded.

Witney's Love and Commitment Shines Through

For those who may not know, Witney is married to Carson McAllister, and the couple celebrated their union on January 1, 2016, following an October 2015 engagement. Their relationship dates back even further, with the two having dated for four years before tying the knot. In this challenging moment, it's inspiring to see Witney standing by her husband's side, offering him the support he needs most. As we approach the holiday season, our thoughts and prayers are with Witney, Carson, and their entire family during this trying time.