Samuel Hogge, my wife's father, passed away on December 20, 2025, at the age of 66 after fighting for his health for over ten years. He faced frequent battles with pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and several respiratory and cardiovascular issues. In late October, Samuel was hospitalized after passing out due to lack of oxygen, and he spent over a month in the hospital. After returning home, he was only able to stay for a few days before needing to go back. His health continued to decline, and despite the doctors' best efforts, his condition made it impossible to perform the surgery he needed. After his final hospital stay, Samuel was home for just a week before he passed away, just after midnight on December 20th.

Because of the timing and the many challenges we faced, we weren't able to save up for final expenses, and we were heartbroken to learn that Samuel did not have life insurance. While Medicaid covered a large portion of the funeral costs, there is still an out-of-pocket charge that we need to pay before the funeral home can proceed. We are not asking for much—just enough to have Samuel cremated and to keep a picture as a memory.

My wife was always introverted, but since her father's passing, she has become even more withdrawn. While I do my best to support her and bring a smile to her face, I can see how much she is struggling to process this loss. She didn't want to ask for help, not out of pride, but because she never wants to burden anyone else. With my seasonal job ending and our finances already stretched thin, we simply don't have the means to cover these final expenses. My wife has been praying non-stop, and I know that any help we receive will mean the world to her. If you are able to support us, we will be forever grateful, and we promise to pay it forward to others in need in the future.