Who Is Russell Abraira? Meet The 'Husband Who Helped Guerdy Through Breast Cancer
The Real Housewives of Miami couple started dating their senior year and have been inseparable ever since.
Young love turned longtime love: that's the Abrairas. When The Real Housewives of Miami's Guerdy Abraira met Russell Abraira as a high school sophomore, it wasn't necessarily love at first sight. Nevertheless, the duo soon found their way to each other... and have now been together longer than they were ever apart.
In Season 6, the two got even closer as they navigated Guerdy's breast cancer diagnosis and treatment journey together.
Scroll to discover everything there is to know about the hunky firefighter who keeps the couple's home fires burning brightly.
Who is Russell Abraira, Guerdy Abraira's husband on The Real Housewives of Miami?
Russell Abraira is both a firefighter for the city of Miami and a fan-favorite Househusband. Ever private, you won't find the Florida man on social media... unless you're looking at wife Guerdy's page.
When Russell joined RHOM alongside Guerdy in Season 4, the wedding planner was shocked at how natural her husband appeared on screen.
“It was kind of like, ‘Wow, you’re actually really good on camera,” Guerdy told The Daily Dish of her husband’s appearances in June 2022. “Now, all of a sudden, he’s a heartthrob and, you know, it’s like people are text[ing], saying to me, ‘When is he going to come out with a firefighter calendar?’ I was like, ‘Probably never.’ He should, but he probably wouldn’t. You know, he’s so humble.”
How Russell Abraira helped his wife Guerdy through her breast cancer treatment on Season 6 of RHOM
Guerdy first revealed her breast cancer diagnosis in a candid Instagram post in May 2023.
"In March, I found out some news about my health," she wroteat the time. "I was in St. Barts having the time of my life when my doctor called me with results following a regular mammogram checkup. I have breast cancer."
Her journey was documented while Season 6 was filming, and Russell was right by her side
“I wish you didn’t have to go through this. I wish I could take it from you,” he told his longtime love in Season 6, Episode 9. Still, he had high hopes for her. “I know you’re strong. You can handle it.”
He accompanied her to surgery to removed the cancer in Season 6, Episode 10. “Be strong, OK?” he said to her, kissing her before she was wheeled in for the operation.
Five hours and one successful surgery later, Russell brought Guerdy home. “The doctor said everything was excellent,” Russell noted before tucking Guerdy into bed. “I love you.”
The next episode showed Russell further doting on his wife, grabbing her ice, water, and even a piece of cake when she requested.
“Fine, I admit it, I can be a demanding b-tch of a patient I guess,” said Guerdy in a confessional. “I’m going through a lot here, Russell. But you know what? Spank me if you want! I might like it.“
Russell was also the person she relied on to shave her hair when it began to fall out during chemotherapy.
In September 2023, Guerdy celebrated her last round of chemotherapy at a Memorial Health System facility with medical staff, Russell, and their sons. In a post at the time, she credited Russell with helping her make it through the entirety of the process.
“I was just at a point where I was like, ‘Maybe I just don’t do chemo. Let me just do the best I can and see what happens and live my best life,’” she said about her cancer battle. “And Russell came up to me and he’s like, ‘You can’t do that to us. You can’t do that to me. We need you.’ And that reset my whole thinking… and I had to fight.”
She announced she was officially cancer-free two months later, at BravoCon 2023.
How did Guerdy Abraira and Russell Abraira meet?
Guerdy and Russell met during their sophomore years of high school.
"She had a boyfriend when I first met her," Russell told People in February 2023. "He was a senior and was the star of the basketball team; I was in 10th grade at the time and played basketball too, but was introduced to her because she played volleyball, and her coach required me and a friend of mine to play on the volleyball team. And I was like, 'Wow, she's beautiful' but I knew she was taken so I just stayed away."
RELATED: Guerdy Abraira Has Already Made Career History — and She’s Far from Finished
At the time, Guerdy apparently thought Russell (while extremely cute) was "the rudest person" because he would ignore her hellos in the hallway. In his defense, he was a quiet speaker. After getting called out, he shouted, "Hi Guerdy!" and gave her a big hug the next time they came face to face.
"That's where it all started, in the hallway," Russell noted. "And from the beginning, we were inseparable. She has such a good heart and is such a good mother and partner. I consider ourselves lucky to have found one another."
During Season 4, Episode 2, Guerdy echoed her husband's story.
"From there on, I knew Russell was the one," she said. "We ended up going to a local college together and the rest is history."
Guerdy Abraira and Russell Abraira's relationship timeline
After knowing of each other for a couple years, Guerdy and Russell began dating their senior year of high school. According to a profile in The Knot, an engagement came six years after they began dating. The pair were on a nighttime beach stroll when Russell popped the question.
Wedding bells rang for the couple on November 16, 2002 at St. Bernard de Clairvaux monastery in North Miami Beach.
"Today marks our 20 year wedding anniversary," Guerdy wrote via Instagram in November 2022, promising a "big celebration bash" to come.
What does Russell Abraira do for work?
Russell is a firefighter — a chief, for that matter — who works for the city of Miami. According to Guerdy, his schedule his 24 hours on, then 48 hours off.
"We do not do any of the firefighter, like, 'Oh take out your hose, honey,'" Guerdy clarified during Season 4, Episode 1. "No thank you."
Do Guerdy Abraira and Russell Abraira have kids?
Guerdy and Russell share two children: sons Miles and Liam.
"We have a good cop/bad cop situation going on. Russell is good cop. They're obsessed with that man," Guerdy shared during Season 4, Episode 2. "Miles is exactly like his father: The least chatty person you'll ever meet in your life."
Originally published Sep 24, 2023.
