At ages 68 and 69, Cody and Dawn had long since divorced and moved into separate units at Kahului Lani. Yet their bond never truly ended. Over the years, they remained connected through friendship, trust, and a deep and enduring love for one another.
Earlier this year, their lives changed suddenly.
Cody was hospitalized with diverticulitis and underwent two major colon surgeries. Complications followed, leading to a severe infection that spread to his heart. Twice, he came close to losing his life. Since July, he has faced repeated hospital stays and now depends on a feeding tube as doctors continue to manage his condition.
Through every setback, one person remained by his side.
Dawn stepped in without hesitation.
Despite living on a fixed Social Security income, she became Cody’s primary caregiver. Each day, she cleaned his apartment, prepared his meals, and made sure he had what he needed to recover.
Every week, she did his laundry and helped manage his daily needs. She also took on the responsibility of purchasing essential medical supplies, including gauze, tape, and ileostomy bags, spending nearly four hundred dollars each month out of her own Social Security income to ensure he received proper care.
Her compassion came at a cost.
As the medical expenses grew, Dawn fell behind on her rent.
That is when Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi stepped in.
Working together with St. Anthony Church, the Maui Community Office, and Senior Services through the McCabe Pin Funds, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi provided matching financial assistance to pay off Dawn’s past-due rent and stabilize her housing. Staff also connected the couple to additional support, including the Rental Supplement Program, County of Maui Senior Services, and Social Security caregiver assistance to help meet Cody’s ongoing medical and daily living needs.
Kahului Lani, where Cody and Dawn live, is a master planned, low income senior affordable rental housing development located in Kahului, Maui. Kahului Lani’s two apartment buildings provide 165 senior rental units to Maui residents ages 55 and over who earn 60 percent or less than the Maui County median income. The development includes a 7,500 square foot multipurpose facility with social services provided by Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi.
Today, Cody and Dawn continue to face health and financial challenges, but they do so together. Their story is a reminder that love can endure life’s hardships, even after divorce, illness, and uncertainty. Through every hospital stay, every bill, and every long day of caregiving, their commitment to one another has never faded.
Their enduring love is not defined by the past, but by the care they continue to show each other every single day.
