Mom made her son with leukemia get a life insurance policy — then asked him to sacrifice his medical fund for his sister’s college tuition

Parents may have a favorite child, but making it too obvious can damage family dynamics. A 19-year-old who goes by u/many_addendum_8189 on Reddit recently experienced it when their mom prioritized their sister's dream college over their leukemia treatment. Their mom had agreed to fund their treatment, as long as they promised to repay her. But things changed when the author's sister, Michaela, expressed her desire to join prestigious Dartmouth College in Hanover. Shocked and disheartened, the ailing teen shared their story on October 13, 2025, and their post has received over 64,000 upvotes. 

A heartbreaking text

The teenager shared that they'd signed a contract with their mother, promising to pay her back after the leukemia treatment. But one fine day, their mom texted them with a shocking expectation. She told the author that their sister, Michaela, wanted to join Dartmouth and that she wouldn't be able to pay for her college with the treatment fees. She then asked the teenager to sacrifice their life for their sister.

Her message read, "With the news we received, it's really time to be practical, my love... I'm not prioritizing her over you. It's just the reality that you're worsening." The author's mom believed that she was "draining" their funds by paying for the author's treatment, which might be a "fool's errand." What hurt the teenager the most was their mother saying, "Realistically, I'm the one who will choose." It blatantly showed them who her favorite child was.

'I'm not gone.. I can still beat this'

The mother also dragged Jesus' name into the conversation, saying she told him, and he asked her to inform the teenager through a text message. But the author was determined and was not going down without a firm stand. The teenager asked their mom if this was the reason she made them update their life insurance policy and was avoiding their hospital follow-ups. Moreover, they called her out for choosing Michaela, who was just a year younger than them. "I'm not gone... I can still beat this... I can win," the teenager pointed out. Nonetheless, it broke their heart that their mother had already given up on them. "She’s always prioritized my sister, but this is unreal," they confessed.

Favoritism hurts

Most parents deny having a favorite child, but a YouGov survey proved otherwise. The poll found that while 85% of parents disagreed, 10% admitted they had a favorite child. Now, this behavior might sound harmless, but studies prove that it can negatively affect the 'less favorite' or 'less preferred kids.' For instance, a report from The Survey Center on American Life found that people (40%) whose parents had a favorite child growing up experienced loneliness compared to those whose parents had no favorite child (18%). Additionally, 15% of those living in a home with a favorite child had no one to turn to for support.

'Get away from her'

Meanwhile, people poured in with legal advice in the comment section, pushing the author to get away from their mother. u/susandeyvyjones commented, "Start a GoFundMe and talk to your doctors or a hospital social worker about this." u/Recent_Data_305 added, "You are a legal adult. Cancel that life insurance policy. File taxes on your own and do not allow her to claim you as a dependent. Without her income, you should qualify for assistance. Talk to a social worker. You have to get away from your mother. She is not a good person, and you are not safe with her."

More on Scoop Upworthy

Woman cancels family vacation after being fed up with parents' favoritism towards brother

Sibling leaves family dinner as parents keep favoring their talented brother: 'What about us?'

Yes, parents do have a favorite child. New study confirms suspicions of every sibling ever