Sometimes we think that we have problems, until we come across what other people are going through & it makes us realize just how lucky we are.

This family is going through such extreme emotional, medical & financial turmoil & can really use a helping hand!

Please read this in full & consider contributing to help them during this Holiday Season.

• This was a family of 5 that consisted of a husband, Steve Hetyey (age 55), his wife, Heather (age 46), & their 3 children. (One is 10 & 2 twins who are age 7)

• Steve had kidney cancer in 2017 & again in 2018.

• He lost his life insurance after the cancer.

• Heather began having seizures in 2022.

• And is now on disability, cannot drive anymore & cannot be alone.

• A month ago, she ended up having a Grand Mal seizure & was in the ICU for 5 days.

While in the hospital she was unable to reach her husband by phone. So she called in a police welfare check & her husband was found slumped over their sink & had to be rushed to the hospital.

• Upon arrival at the hospital, Steve was found to have double pneumonia & sepsis & was put into the ICU as well.

• Animal control was called in at this time & their dogs were taken to the local shelter. A few days later, one had gotten something severe & had to be euthanized

•The shelter held the dogs but wanted Heather to take them back or relinquish her rights to them. She loves her dogs & did not want to lose them. But with all going on, she could not take them back.

• So she desperately reached out to Cuddly Creatures Animal Rescue, but we unfortunately could not take her dogs in at that time. So I put up a FB plea asking if anyone would be willing to step up to temporarily foster the two remaining dogs, Barkley (7-year-old Boxer) & Trumpet (5-year-old Great Dane) to help this family in their desperate time of need.

• An amazing woman named Suzanne, who runs another local rescue called K9’s in Need stepped up to help. And to the owner’s relief, the dogs are now safe & being cared for by this rescue & Heather could focus on her husband & children.

•Heather had to get rides an hour each way to be by her husband’s side. But his prognosis remained poor & continued to get worse.

He remained unconscious & on life support & as of 12:34pm, 12/3/25, he unfortunately passed away.

• Heather is understandably a complete mess. She just lost her best friend & the father of her 3 young children.

Heather is now a single mom, who is on disability for seizures, with 3 young kids & has

A LOT of expenses to try to cover on her own.

Between funeral & medical expenses, basic food & necessities for her 3 kids, keeping a roof over all of their heads, veterinary care & food for the dogs & the holidays are just a few weeks away…The poor girl’s head is spinning & she doesn’t know where to turn!

These are the types of situations that can break a person’s spirit & bring them to their knees. But Heather is still standing & trying to be strong for her children.

THIS IS A FAMILY THAT IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF THE COMPASSION & SUPPORT FROM THEIR FAMILY, FRIENDS & THEIR COMMUNITY.

PLEASE CONSIDER CONTRIBUTING TO HELP THIS FAMILY IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.