My name is Ashley, and I’m reaching out during the hardest time of my life. My wife was a kind woman who would do anything for anyone—she was truly my world. When she became ill, she lost her job and stayed home, and I took care of her every day. We did our best to get by, but after five months of relying on my social security and losing her income, our savings were completely drained.

Now, I’m facing the heartbreaking task of arranging her cremation. I want to give her the dignity she deserves, but I simply don’t have the means to cover the costs on my own. My children are wonderful and would help if they could, but they have families of their own to care for, and I don’t want to be a burden to them.

I served in the 82nd Airborne Division in 1972, and I’ve never asked for anything before. Asking for help is incredibly difficult for me, but I would do anything for my wife. Any support you can offer—no matter how small—would mean the world to me. Thank you for reading my story and for considering helping during this difficult time.