Father hopes to provide Christmas for kids
After his wife died suddenly last spring, this father of four thought things couldn't become more difficult for his family.
Overcome by his own grief, the father, 38, said he couldn't continue working. He became so depressed that he began making serious errors while on the job. He agreed with his employers when they suggested he take some time off. That was several months ago, and he hasn't been able to return from his unpaid leave of absence.
He said he plans to return to work in January. In the meantime, he's going for counseling while trying to care for his kids, three little girls and a teenage boy.
"They need me more than ever. We've gone through my savings, and I've had to go into debt to keep making my house payment and keep us all fed and in clothes," he said.
He said he and his wife moved to North Idaho 11 years ago. Their families are in Nevada, so he doesn't have a lot of help right now, he said. On different occasions, he said his parents and his in-laws have spent time in North Idaho, helping out.
"But they can't be here all the time, and I don't want to move the kids from their schools now too," he said.
He knew this first Christmas would be a sad one for all of them, he said, but now he's also having daily anxiety attacks about paying the bills. He said he feels like he's failing his children at a time when they need him more than ever.
"It's just breaking my heart that I don't have the money to do anything for Christmas for them. This has just been so hard," the dad said.
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