Where would he be without her?

Ryan Sutter took to Instagram on Tuesday to thank his wife, Trista Sutter, for helping him navigate a months-long mystery illness. However, the firefighter began his lengthy note with a message about how he used to rely on himself during difficult times.

“I’ve learned a lot about resiliency this year. I’d imagine we all have?” he wrote, acknowledging that 2020 has been a tough year for many due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. “For years I followed the ideal laid out by Gandhi that strength was measured by an indomitable will.”

The Colorado native continued, “I pushed myself to develop a mindset that would not give up, give in, or give off any sign of weakness. I did this mostly on my own, choosing solitude as my practice ground. Though I had breakdowns, few ever saw them.”

Ryan went on to say that he has learned to accept aid from others as his health issues persist. Though he has repeatedly tested negative for COVID-19, the handsome dad of two — who shares son Maxwell, 13, and daughter Blakesley, 11, with Trista — has been experiencing unexplained fatigue, muscle aches, fevers, and congestion, among other symptoms, for most of the year.

“Sometimes it is necessary to let others in, to ask for help and to accept it. For me, health concerns brought on this realization, eventually forcing me to expose what I considered to be weakness. Once exposed however, weakness became opportunity,” he wrote. “I was no longer alone in my struggle.”

Ryan, who married Trista in a televised wedding ceremony in December 2003 after falling in love on Season 1 of “The Bachelorette,” then explained how crucial his spouse’s support has been throughout his road to recovery.

“My wife went on a mission, developing a medical strategy and path towards hopeful answers while at the same time leaving daily reminder notes to keep my spirits up,” he wrote. “My family has rallied behind me, my friends have shown tremendous support and my colleagues a high degree of understanding and patience. For all of this I am grateful. My intent in sharing this is to make a single point… Resiliency is not a solo act.”

Trista responded to Ryan’s touching letter in the comments section, writing, “You continuously amaze me. Ilu.”

See his entire post below.