What a heartbreaking story, and sadly so common.

When I was a teenager 40 years ago my best friend's father was a land development contractor. It was always boom or bust. He used to call your 40s and up "fuck you time," because big companies know that most everyone at that age has kids and a mortgage, and they can fuck you over.

That was one of the reasons I started my own company a long time ago, so that if I made it - I did and realize I'm one of the lucky ones to have a firm over 25 years - I wouldn't be competing against younger versions of myself for work inside my own firm when I got to the age where I am now.

[edit] too [sic] typos