He has been trying, since he was laid off, to get another job. But when he couldn't get one and their health care coverage was tripled to over $1,300 per month in premiums, he had no other way to afford coverage.
The sad thing is that by joining the army he will be sent away. So he won't be there physically to support her through all the chemo (he will be granted time off to be with her if she is diagnosed as terminal). How sad that she will have to go through this alone with her children.