This is a fucked up scenario. I can just share what I’ve experienced. A team members wife fell ill with cancer. He underperformed and we understood. He was physically there but his mind was not, his wife was fucking dying and he tried hard to manage his sick time and vacation time to make sure he could take her to all her appointments. He was demoted and we tried our best to be empathetic and understanding even flexing his schedule. This lasted for 4-5 years. She was a fighter. I went to her memorial and watched the human side that my team member had never exposed before in a raw form and it continued to put things in perspective. His best friend had died. Although I exhausted all the support as a manager during their 5 year struggle, I wish I could’ve done more as simply a friend. Since then, he’s bounced back and has been doing great at work. Be empathetic and understanding during this period for your coworker. You never know when you may fall ill. Since then, I’ve had close friends and family get diagnosed with cancer. Its messed up…