The actors’s wife has been by his side since his cancer diagnosis last year

James Van Der Beek is spending another Valentine’s Day with his wife and sweetheart Kimberly — but this time, he's even more grateful for her love and support.

The Dawson’s Creek alum, 47, took to Instagram on Feb. 14 to praise his wife for taking care of him amid his recent cancer diagnosis. The post features a carousel of photos showing the couple in a warm embrace.

“I remember our first #valentinesday… waking up early in that apartment in New York to quietly dec it out with cheap drugstore decorations I’d bought,” the actor recalled in the caption. “All I wanted to do was take care of you. I never once thought there’d come a time when I’d need you to take care of me. But have you ever.”

“I’d like to say I chose my Valentine wisely. But I didn’t have any choice,” he continued. “I was a goner from the moment you interrupted me mid-sentence telling a friend I was ready to meet the real deal.”

He added: “@vanderkimberly thank you for being on this Earth. Thank you for sticking by me. And thank you for being a guiding light in the lives of everyone lucky enough to know you. I’ll fall for you a million times over. Happy Valentine’s Day"

On Nov. 3, 2024, Van Der Beek revealed to the world on Instagram that he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The next week, in an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, the Varsity Blues actor opened up about his life since receiving the news at age 46.