Serious illness?

"Lyrically, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love is as dark as it is introspective and cathartic; Way has been quoted as saying that the band's lyrics were a great way for him to deal with the problems he had been going through (which included severe depression, drug/alcohol abuse, and a serious illness in his family)."

I read that just a few minutes ago on some random page, and, maybe this is a stupid question, but what 'serious illness in his family'? O.o

Dumb question, I know, and I shouldn't be wasting your time like this... But I'm so bored! XD