Help Amy Hinze and Family Through Medical Crisis

Hi, my name is Amy Hinze, and this is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to write.

Right now, my husband John and I are facing serious medical challenges that have left us emotionally and financially overwhelmed. On top of that, we’re trying to hold our family together through it all—and we’re reaching out for support as we navigate one of the most difficult times in our lives.

In February, I was hospitalized for five days due to a serious GI bleed. Since then, the medications I’ve been prescribed have caused difficult side effects—including mental sluggishness and dizziness—that make it hard for me to function at work. I’ve used up all of my paid time off, and now I’ve been forced to take unpaid FMLA days just to protect my job. These days help ensure I don’t lose my position, but I don’t receive any income while I’m out.

While I haven’t yet been approved for short-term disability, it seems likely I will be, as it now seems I’ll be out of work until at least mid-May. But for the moment, we are still waiting, and without that support, we’re continuing to struggle.

Meanwhile, my husband John has been on short-term disability since October after undergoing multiple surgeries on his elbow. He had only been getting $313 every two weeks, which didn't come close to covering our basic needs. He has reached his limit on short-term disability and is scheduled to return to work at the end of April. As of now, it appears that he will only be working part-time hours. That means our financial strain isn’t going away anytime soon. He is actively seeking full-time employment.

We also live with our two adult children, and they’re affected by this crisis too.

Our 22-year-old daughter Kelsea had to leave her job due to mental health struggles and a condition called POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). She’s doing her best to manage her health but isn’t in a position to contribute financially right now.

Our 25-year-old son Austin lives with us and has been helping us however he can. He’s been an incredible support, but we don’t want to overburden him or put the full weight of our situation on his shoulders.

We’re asking for help to cover:

We’re doing everything we can to get through this, but we can’t do it alone. Every donation, share, or even kind message truly means the world to us. If you’ve ever faced a moment where life felt too heavy to carry alone, please know your support could help lighten our load and give us a path forward.

Thank you for reading our story, and for any help you can offer.

With love and gratitude,

Amy, John, Kelsea & Austin