My dear friends are breaking up :(

They've been together for over 10 years, have a 3 year old son and one of them has pretty severe health issues and he can't work.  What's going to happen to them?  Obviously they're not married - Illinois just passed civil unions, but they haven't done that yet either.  I believe they have a registered domestic partnership (I could be wrong), but how is this going to work?  Is my friend with the illness going to get screwed?  He's a stay at home dad to Connor - is he going to lose his child?  I am utterly distraught.  I never thought this would happen to them.  I feel like if they were married, there would be some distinct rules in place to protect them both and I am even more pissed that gay marriage isn't legal across the board.