David and Carolyn originally met in a bar and began a relationship that eventually became a marriage. At some point, Carolyn became pregnant and gave birth to James Rossi in 1979, but the baby died shortly after childbirth. The pain of losing their child, and Rossi's long hours and frequent travel, strained their relationship until, in 1983, Carolyn divorced Rossi. The former couple did, however, decide to remain friends, having been there for each other after the death of their son.
In Season 7, Episode 5, "From Childhood's Hour," Carolyn comes to Washington, D.C., to inform Rossi that a year prior she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease). Unfortunately, as Carolyn tells her ex-husband, the disease is progressing quickly and she doesn't have much time left. She also asks him to help her end her life because she doesn't want to face the horrors that await someone in her condition.
