American Idol has seen its fair share of emotional back stories, but rarely one has been more heartbreaking than that of hopeful singer Jessica Phillips, who had to become a caregiver for her boyfriend after he suffered a stroke.
The couple had been together for five years when he had a stroke at a friend’s birthday last Easter, and when he woke up he did not even recognise who she was.
Recalling the story to Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler, before auditioning, Jessica explained: “He was in hospital for a month and a half. When he did wake up he didn't know who I was. The entire relationship itself has changed. Now I'm really a caretaker and there's a different type of love I feel now and a different type of responsibility I have to him and life in general.”
As footage ran of Jessica and her boyfriend working together on his speech therapy, she added: “Every day is just a struggle but also a blessing because we still have life and we still have another chance to keep going.
“This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I'm still going through it and I just pray every day I'll be able to continue.”
After singing Faith Evans’ ‘Again,’ Jessica received three yes's and a ticket to Hollywood from the judges.
Celebrating with her boyfriend outside the audition room, Jessica told Ryan: "American Idol will change my life in that I'll be able to get back into music. That's how we met - doing music. With all the health things going on we haven't been able to do it really so this will kick the music back into gear for us."
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