singular or plural

[Taka]

Which is correct? Or they are both fine but the meaning is different?

Even if someone you love becomes sick and they may die, you are not responsible for their illness and there are times when there is nothing you can do.

Even if someone you love becomes sick and they may die, you are not responsible for their illnesses and there are times when there is nothing you can do.

[Gillnetter]

Which is correct? Or they are both fine but the meaning is different?

Even if someone you love becomes sick and they may die, you are not responsible for their illness and there are times when there is nothing you can do.
One illness
Even if someone you love becomes sick and they may die, you are not responsible for their illnesses and there are times when there is nothing you can do.More than one illness.

The first sentence is about one illness, cancer, for example. The second sentence is about more than one sickness, the person may have cancer and heart problems.

[Taka]

So even though it's 'they/their', you have a single person in mind because 'they/their' is pronouns for 'someone (you love)'?

[Rover_KE]

Yes. They/their/them are used as both plural and singular gender-neutral pronouns.

Rover

[Taka]

Very interesting! Thank you!