We’re the Hewitt family: me, Cindy, my husband, Paul, and our daughter.

Paul is a disabled Army veteran, and over time, his needs became more than what could realistically be managed while I continued working full time.

I tried to make corporate work fit our family for as long as I could. I worked overtime hoping we could finally get ahead, but when I was promoted to salary, I effectively took a pay cut compared with what I had been earning through overtime.

The financial strain was hard, but the bigger issue was Paul.

He needed me to be fully present for his safety, well-being, medical care, and advocacy. I could not reliably attend appointments, help manage his care during the day, or always be there when he needed support. Even when I took time off, work could still pull me away.

Eventually, I had to admit that the arrangement was no longer sustainable for our family.

So in June 2025, I left corporate work to become Paul’s full-time caregiver.

Walking away from a steady paycheck while already struggling financially was terrifying, but I knew I needed to be where I was needed most.

Today, I am able to attend Paul’s appointments, advocate for him, help manage his care, and be present for his safety. I am also working to rebuild our income through my software company and other business efforts.

Unfortunately, the years of trying to hold everything together left us with significant debt.

We are working hard to pay it down through extra income, our businesses, intentional payments, and now micropayments inspired by other families sharing their debt journeys online.

We are sharing our story because we know we are not the only family that has had to choose between financial stability and being present for someone they love.

Our goal is to get out from under this debt, create more stability for our family, and eventually begin focusing on the nonprofits we have planned to help others.

Every payment gets us a little closer.

An Important Update on Our Family’s Situation

I wish I had better news to share, but I believe in being honest about where we are in this journey.

After years of fighting for the benefits and support Paul needs, we are still waiting. Despite our continued efforts, countless calls, paperwork, appointments, and appeals for help, we still do not have the financial support our family desperately needs.

We are now dangerously close to exhausting our savings.

For a long time, those savings have been what allowed us to keep our heads above water while navigating Paul’s care and fighting for benefits. Unfortunately, that safety net is nearly gone.

We have now reached the point where some of our accounts are past due. Bills are continuing to arrive, everyday expenses aren’t slowing down, and the uncertainty of when, or even if, benefits will be approved makes planning for our family’s future incredibly difficult.

I am doing everything I can to bring additional income into our household while continuing to care for Paul, advocate for his needs, and keep our family moving forward. But the reality is that building income takes time, and our financial obligations aren’t waiting for us to catch up.

It is incredibly difficult to share this publicly. We’ve worked hard to maintain our financial stability throughout this journey, and watching years of savings disappear while waiting for help has been heartbreaking.

We are not giving up our fight for Paul’s benefits. But we are running out of the financial resources needed to keep fighting without additional support.

If you’re in a position to contribute to our GoFundMe, please know that your generosity will help us cover essential household expenses and past-due obligations while we continue navigating this process.

If donating isn’t possible, sharing our story is another meaningful way to help.

To everyone who has donated, shared, reached out, or simply reminded us that we’re not alone in this, thank you. Your kindness has meant more than I can put into words.

I never imagined we would find ourselves in this position, and asking for help is not easy. But I would rather be transparent about what we’re facing than pretend everything is okay when it isn’t.

Thank you for continuing to stand beside our family.

With gratitude,

Cindy and the Hewitt Family