Seeking Help Upon My Wife's Passing of Cancer

Please know, I am reaching out through this platform as a last resort.

My wife, Andrea, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in early January of 2023. After a brave and challenging battle, she passed away peacefully in early August of 2024, in our home while we held hands. Below is a link to learn more about Andrea and her journey, if you are interested.

https://www.shareyourandreastory.com/

Andrea was unable to work from the day she was diagnosed until the day she passed. While she did qualify for Disability, there was a 6-month waiting period, which in turn ended up being 7 months due to the way they pay out funds.

During my wife’s tumultuous journey, my work hours also became dramatically reduced so I could be there to support and care for her. I was working around 14-18 hours a week at most, and sometimes as few as 8 hours a week. While I did my best to balance work and home lives, my commitment to my wife and her needs ALWAYS came first, so my income was significantly reduced during her battle.

I secretly sought financial help earlier from family and banks, and tried my best to use the minimal credit we had to make ends meet. Family is maxed out, the banks were of no assistance, and credit became maxed out. I considered the donations path earlier but did not want Andrea to feel any added stress from knowing our finances were becoming a challenge. Her physical and emotional health was my main concern.

In addition to losing my wife, I also lost my job shortly before her passing. She wished to die at home on Hospice, so I needed to be there with her 24/7. My work was not able to accommodate, and I was told I did not qualify for vacation time, sick days, PTO or even FMLA. Further, the Disability payments my wife received stopped upon her death, and a person cannot claim “Survivor Benefits” until they reach 63 years old. I have 10 years until that time.

I reentered the work force again in early November of 2024, but eventually my mental struggles overtook me again and I needed to step away again. Truth is, I was not ready to return to "normal" life yet.

My wife and I lived modestly… Smaller house, no fancy cars, no expensive toys, boats or lake home. All we really have/had is the house and our one car. These two things now mean everything to me. They are my last tangible connection to the woman I loved unconditionally for 28 years, and will continue to love until the day I leave this earth. The thought of losing these items due to fate and circumstance beyond our control is heartbreaking.

I am seeking your kindness and compassion to help me through this rough patch, allowing me to reset from the severe physical, emotional, and financial strain Andrea and I went through as a couple for 19 months. I just need a moment to regroup, address my mental health issues, then refocus on new employment.

I whole-heartedly thank you in advance for your generosity. Any size donation is appreciated. Thank you and have a blessed day.