DACA in 2026: the complete guide

We know the DACA news can feel like too much. Here is the truth about where things stand, and the next step for you, whatever your situation.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. DNLH is not a law office. Before you act on anything about travel, an arrest or a court case, talk with an immigration lawyer or a DOJ accredited representative. Free help is listed below.

On this page

1. Where does DACA stand today?
2. When should I renew?
3. How do I renew, online or by mail?
4. How much does it cost, and can I get help paying?
5. How long is renewal taking, and how do I check my case?
6. What if my work permit ends before the new one comes?
7. Can I speed up my case?
8. Can I apply if I never had DACA?
9. Can I travel outside the U.S.?
10. How do I keep my DACA safe?
11. What are my rights if ICE or the police stop me?
12. Can DACA lead to a green card or citizenship?
13. What changed in 2025 and 2026?
14. Where can I get free help in the Bay Area?
15. Questions people ask
16. Printables and Sources

Where does DACA stand today?

DACA is still running for people who have it. USCIS says it continues to accept and decide renewal requests. Your current DACA and work permit stay valid until the date they end, unless USCIS ends them in your case (USCIS DACA page, checked October 21, 2026).

New requests are on hold. USCIS accepts first time requests but does not decide them. That is because of a federal court order in a case brought by Texas. Your request would wait, with no decision, until the courts or the rules change.

Here is what DACA is, in plain words:

• It is a pause on deportation. The government agrees, for a set time, not to remove you. The federal rule calls it "temporary forbearance from removal."
• It comes with a work permit. You ask for it at the same time with Form I-765, under category (c)(33).
• It lasts a set time, then you renew. There is no limit on how many times you can renew.
• It is not a green card and not a legal immigration status. The rule says it gives no right to stay in or come back to the U.S.
• It stops the clock on "unlawful presence." While your DACA is in effect, you are not counted as unlawfully present. That can matter a lot later. See Can DACA lead to a green card?

About the court case. On January 17, 2025, a federal appeals court (the Fifth Circuit) limited the earlier court order to Texas and to the work permit part of DACA, and sent the case back to the trial judge. Even so, USCIS still treats first time requests the same in every state: accepted, not decided. USCIS still describes the same rule on its DACA page, and no newer court order is posted there (checked October 21, 2026). When a new order comes, USCIS will post it there. Check that page, not social media.

When should I renew?

File 120 to 150 days before your DACA ends. That is about 4 to 5 months ahead. USCIS strongly encourages this window.

• Too early: USCIS says it will accept a renewal it receives more than 150 days ahead, but it will not decide it faster. Your new DACA may then overlap the old one, so the new period can end less than 2 full years after your current one (USCIS DACA FAQ Q52 and Q53, checked October 21, 2026).
• Too late: filing with fewer than 120 days left raises the risk that your DACA and work permit end before the new ones arrive. DACA work permits get no automatic extension while you wait.

How to find your window:

1. Find the end date on your work permit (Form I-766) or your last approval notice.
2. Count back 150 days. That is the first day to file.
3. Count back 120 days. That is your target last day.
4. Put both dates in your phone and on paper. Use the Renewal countdown checklist.

Your DACA already ended? You can still file as a renewal within one year after it ended, as long as USCIS did not end (terminate) it. But you cannot work, and unlawful presence starts adding up again from the day it ended, unless you were under 18 when you filed. File as soon as you can.

More than one year since it ended, or USCIS ended it? Then you must file as a first time request. Those are not being decided right now. Talk with a lawyer first. See Can I apply if I never had DACA?

How do I renew, online or by mail?

Online is cheaper and faster to track. Paper works too. Both use the same forms and the same rules. Pick the one that fits you.

What you file

Three forms, always together:

• Form I-821D: your DACA renewal request. Use the 01/20/25 edition.
• Form I-765: your work permit request. Your category is (c)(33). Use the 08/21/25 edition. USCIS is not accepting the 09/15/26 edition.
• Form I-765WS: a one page worksheet about your own income, expenses and savings. You do not need anyone else's money information.

Leave out the I-765, and USCIS rejects the whole request. The forms are free on uscis.gov. Never pay anyone for a blank form.

What to gather first

• Your A number and the date your DACA ends
• Your addresses and any trips since your last approved DACA request
• Your own yearly income, expenses and savings for the worksheet
• A card or U.S. bank account with the full fee in it
• Copies of anything new: court papers if you are now in immigration court (unless the case was administratively closed), or papers for any charge or conviction you have not reported before

For a renewal, you do not resend the papers you sent before. Minor traffic tickets, like driving without a license, need no papers unless alcohol or drugs were involved.

Online, in short

1. Sign in or create a free account at my.uscis.gov.
2. Choose to file Form I-821D. Answer every question. Your work permit category is (c)(33).
3. Upload new papers only if they apply. Files must be PDF, JPG or JPEG, no bigger than 12 MB each.
4. Review carefully. You cannot change anything after you submit.
5. Sign by typing your full legal name, then pay. Save your receipt.

Full steps: Renew DACA online.

On paper, in short

1. Print each form single sided. Every page must be the same edition.
2. Sign the I-821D and I-765 by hand, in ink.
3. Pay by card with Form G-1450, or from a U.S. bank account with Form G-1650. Write the exact amount. Use one payment type for the whole packet. USCIS stopped taking checks and money orders on October 28, 2025, unless it approves a paper payment exemption on Form G-1651.
4. Make a full copy of everything.
5. Mail it by a trackable service.

Where to mail from California (checked October 21, 2026):

Addresses change. Open the official DACA address page the day you mail. Full packet order and a checklist: Renew DACA by mail.

Mistakes that get a request sent back

• No signature, or a typed or copied signature on a paper form
• The I-765 or the worksheet left out
• Old editions, or pages from two editions mixed together
• A wrong fee, a blank amount, or a card that is declined. USCIS does not try a declined card again.
• Using Form I-821 (that one is for TPS) instead of I-821D

Filing more than 150 days early is not on USCIS's rejection list. USCIS accepts it, but you can lose some DACA time to the overlap. Aim for the 120 to 150 day window.

How much does it cost, and can I get help paying?

$555 online or $605 on paper. That is $85 for the I-821D plus $470 online or $520 on paper for the I-765. Filing online saves $50. USCIS raised some fees on October 16, 2026, but the I-821D fee and the I-765 fee for category (c)(33) stayed the same (USCIS fee schedule, checked October 21, 2026).

There are no fee waivers for DACA. A very small number of people can get a fee exemption, but only if USCIS approves it before they file. Ask a clinic if you think you qualify.

Where the money can come from:

• Mission Asset Fund (California only): a 0% interest loan for the exact online USCIS fee, loaded on a virtual card you use when you file online. You pay it back monthly, and the payments are reported to the credit bureaus.
• Mission Asset Fund Bay Area DACA/Dreamer Legalization Grant: up to $5,000 for people working with a lawyer or nonprofit toward lawful status. A plain renewal does not qualify by itself. Funding is limited.
• Family help: anyone with a U.S. bank account can pay a paper filing for you with Form G-1650.
• Save ahead: $555 over 12 months is about $47 a month.

Details, other options and a fee plan you can print: Help paying DACA fees.

How long is renewal taking, and how do I check my case?

Longer than before. Plan for at least 70 days, and often more. Members of Congress wrote on June 18, 2026 that the median DACA renewal wait reached 70 days between October 2025 and February 2026, up from 15 days in fiscal year 2025. Median means half of cases took longer.

USCIS's own DACA page still says it decides most renewals within 120 days, and it still cites older numbers from 2023 and early 2024. The official USCIS processing times tool showed no figure when we checked on October 18, 2026. Open it yourself, pick Form I-821D, and write down the time and the date.

What happens after you file

1. Receipt notice. Online filers usually see it in their account right away. Paper filers get it by mail. Keep every notice in one folder.
2. Fingerprint (biometrics) appointment, maybe. USCIS may send a notice with a date and place. Bring the notice and a photo ID. Miss it, and USCIS may deny your request. Need to move it? Ask before the appointment.
3. Request for Evidence, maybe. If USCIS needs more, it sends a letter with a deadline. Answer on time. Not sure what it wants? Take it to a clinic right away.
4. Decision. The approval notice and the new card come separately. USCIS says to allow up to 30 days after approval for the card.

If USCIS denies a DACA request, there is no appeal. If you think USCIS made an administrative mistake, such as mailing a notice to an old address after you reported a move, call the Contact Center to ask for a review and talk with a clinic.

How to check your own case

• Online account: sign in at my.uscis.gov to see status, notices and messages. Paper filers get an Account Acceptance Notice in the mail to link their case.
• Case Status Online: enter the 13 character receipt number (3 letters and 10 numbers) at egov.uscis.gov. Leave out the dashes.

If you move while you wait

Tell USCIS within 10 days. Use the change of address tool in your online account and enter each receipt number, or mail Form AR-11. The Post Office does not update USCIS for you, and it does not forward USCIS mail. Do both.

More on notices, missing mail and planning: While you wait.

What if my work permit ends before the new one comes?

You must stop working on the date printed on your card, until the new one arrives. DACA work permits are not automatically extended while a renewal is pending. A receipt notice does not let you keep working. Your employer must check your new card on Form I-9 no later than the day the old one ends.

On October 14, 2026, DHS made final a rule that ends automatic extensions for work permit renewals filed on or after October 30, 2025. DACA permits were never on the old extension list, so for DACA the result is the same: no extra time.

If your DACA itself ends while you wait, unlawful presence starts adding up again until the renewal is approved, unless you were under 18 when you filed. This can matter later. Ask a clinic what it means for you.

Your gap plan

With your employer:

• Tell HR the date your permit ends, and show your receipt notice as proof you filed.
• Ask what they can offer if the card is late: unpaid leave, holding your job, or bringing you back the day the card comes. Ask for it in writing.
• Bring the new card to HR the day it arrives.

With your money:

• Plan for at least two or three months without pay after your end date.
• Set aside what you can for rent, food, phone and transportation.
• If money gets tight, 211 can help you find food, rent and utility help in the counties it serves. It does not cover every California county; check 211ca.org for yours. See 211: free help finding local services and Food help.

With school (California): you do not need DACA for in state tuition or the California Dream Act. A gap does not end those. A campus job is still a job, so it may pause too. Tell your financial aid office early. See Paying for college in California.

With yourself: waiting is hard. If the stress is heavy, see Mental health care without fear. If you or someone you know is in danger right now, call 911. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988.

Your rights on the job stay the same while you wait. See Your rights at work.

Can I speed up my case?

You can ask, and asking is free. USCIS decides every request case by case, and it may say no. Asking does not change whether you are approved. It only asks USCIS to look sooner. You have three tools:

USCIS's five expedite reasons: severe financial loss to you or a company, an emergency or urgent humanitarian reason, a nonprofit that needs you for a specific role, a government interest named by an agency official, and a clear USCIS error.

The hard truth about job loss: USCIS says needing a work permit, by itself, is not enough. It will also not count an emergency caused by filing late. But USCIS's DACA answers name loss of employment as the kind of proof that may support an expedite. So if you filed on time and your employer puts in writing that you will lose your job on a set date, that letter is your strongest proof.

Before you ask: go to any biometrics appointment first, gather proof on letterhead with dates and signatures, and have your receipt number ready. Keep a log of every call: date, time, agent ID and any reference number.

Your member of Congress has caseworkers who can ask USCIS about your case for free. You sign a privacy release form first. Find yours at house.gov. In East Palo Alto, ZIP 94303 shows two districts, so enter your full street address. Caseworkers can ask questions. They cannot make USCIS approve you.

Never pay anyone to "speed up" a DACA case. Proof lists, a call script and more: Can I speed up my DACA case?

Can I apply if I never had DACA?

You can file, and USCIS will accept it, but it will not decide it for now. Your request waits because of the court order. You will not get DACA or a work permit from it while the order stands.

Who could qualify

You must meet every one of these rules:

• You came to the U.S. before your 16th birthday.
• You were born on or after June 16, 1981.
• You have lived in the U.S. without a break since June 15, 2007. A trip abroad without permission on or after August 15, 2012 breaks it.
• You were in the U.S. on June 15, 2012, and you are here on the day you file.
• You had no lawful status on June 15, 2012, and you have none when you file.
• You are in school, finished high school, earned a GED, or were honorably discharged from the U.S. military or Coast Guard.
• You have no felony, no significant misdemeanor, and not three or more other misdemeanors, and you are not seen as a threat to safety.
• You are at least 15 when you file, unless you are in removal proceedings or have a removal or voluntary departure order.

What filing now means

• Paper only. Only people who had DACA before can file online.
• Full fee, no waivers. $605 on paper. Federal rules say filing fees are generally not refunded, whatever the outcome, and any refund is up to USCIS (8 CFR 103.2(a)(1), checked October 21, 2026). USCIS's DACA pages do not say what happens to the fee for a request it never decides. Plan as if you will not get it back.
• The clock keeps running. USCIS says unlawful presence keeps adding up while a first time request is pending, unless you were under 18 when you filed.
• The government will have your information. USCIS says it generally does not use DACA information to start deportation against you or your family, except for crime, fraud or safety concerns. This policy is not a right you can enforce in court, and it could change.

Should you file now? It depends on your history. Arrests, past removal orders, travel and family all change the answer. That is why a free legal screening comes first. Ask the lawyer to also check whether you qualify for something stronger than DACA. Bring the Legal screening sheet.

More: Apply for DACA for the first time.

Can I travel outside the U.S.?

Only with advance parole, and only after a lawyer reviews your history. In 2026, travel became riskier for many DACA recipients.

The rules

• Advance parole is a travel permit you get before you leave, with Form I-131. The fee is $630 on paper or $580 online (USCIS fee schedule, checked October 21, 2026).
• It is only for school, work or humanitarian reasons, like visiting a very sick relative or going to a funeral. USCIS says vacation is not a valid reason.
• It cannot last past your DACA end date.
• Leave without it, and you may not be able to come back. Your DACA can also end.

What changed on August 13, 2026

The Board of Immigration Appeals decided Matter of Delcarmen-Lara, 29 I&N Dec. 830. It held that leaving the U.S. on advance parole is a "departure" under the unlawful presence bars. That overruled a 2012 decision that said the opposite.

USCIS now says it plainly. Its Form I-131 page (updated October 7, 2026) says that as of August 13, 2026, leaving after you get advance parole counts as a departure, and that a person with more than 180 days of unlawful presence may face the 3 year or 10 year bar when they come back (checked October 21, 2026).

Who should worry most: people who lived in the U.S. without status after turning 18 and before getting DACA, or who had a gap between DACA periods after 18. More than 180 days can mean a 3 year bar. One year or more can mean a 10 year bar.

Budget for the parole fee. The USCIS fee schedule lists a $1,050 parole fee, collected by CBP at the airport or border each time you are paroled back in, unless CBP finds you fit a narrow exception, such as a medical emergency or a dying relative. It is listed under advance parole, including advance parole for DACA. No fee waiver is allowed (USCIS fee schedule, checked October 21, 2026).

More: Keep your DACA: travel.

How do I keep my DACA safe?

Five habits protect it. Avoid arrests. Report every move within 10 days. File taxes when you need to. Never claim to be a U.S. citizen. Never vote.

What can end DACA

USCIS can end (terminate) DACA at any time, and your work permit ends with it. Usually USCIS first sends a Notice of Intent to Terminate and gives you a chance to answer. These can stop a renewal or end your DACA:

• Any felony, a crime that can bring more than one year in jail
• One significant misdemeanor, including DUI, domestic violence, sexual abuse, burglary, drug sales and gun charges, or any misdemeanor with more than 90 days in jail
• Three or more other misdemeanors from different days. Minor traffic tickets do not count. DUI always does.
• Being seen as a threat to national security or public safety

An expunged record, a juvenile case or a state immigration offense does not count automatically. But USCIS looks at the whole picture, so tell your lawyer about all of them.

If you are arrested

Call an immigration lawyer right away. Tell your criminal defense lawyer you have DACA. A plea deal that seems small, like a DUI or a drug charge, can cost you your DACA. Ask both lawyers to talk before you agree to anything in court.

The rest of the habits

• Moves: tell USCIS within 10 days, online or with Form AR-11.
• Taxes: the IRS says people who count as U.S. residents for tax purposes must file when they meet the filing rules. See CalEITC and Young Child Tax Credit with an ITIN.
• Selective Service: men age 18 through 25 must register, including undocumented men. Register at sss.gov.
• Never say you are a U.S. citizen, on a job form, a loan or a voter form. A false claim can bar you from a green card for good.
• Never vote unless the law lets you. Illegal voting can bar you too.
• Never give false information on a DACA form. USCIS warns it is a federal crime.

Checklist and details: What must I do to keep my DACA?

What are my rights if ICE or the police stop me?

You have the right to stay silent, and you should carry your work permit. DACA protects you, but it is not a full shield.

What DACA does and does not do:

• While your DACA is valid, the government has agreed not to remove you for that period, unless it ends your DACA.
• A removal case may stay open. In April 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals said an immigration judge may not end a removal case only because the person has DACA (Matter of Santiago-Santiago, 29 I&N Dec. 589). If you have a court case, go to every hearing.
• In 2025, DHS said DACA holders are "not automatically protected" from deportation, and 41 senators asked DHS to explain arrests of DACA recipients.

What to carry: if you are 18 or older, federal law says to carry proof of registration. A final rule in effect June 29, 2026 lists the work permit (Form I-766) as proof. Not carrying it can bring a fine of up to $5,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both. DHS asked for comments on removing work permits from that list, so this could change. Never carry false papers.

What to say: "I choose to remain silent. I want to speak with a lawyer." Do not lie. Do not run. Do not sign anything until you talk with a lawyer.

What California police cannot do: the California Attorney General says state and local police cannot ask about your status for immigration enforcement, cannot share your home or work address with immigration agents except in limited cases, and cannot help ICE with immigration enforcement except in very limited cases. Federal agents are not bound by these state limits.

If you are detained: ask for a lawyer and sign nothing. Have a family member call your lawyer and bring copies of your approval notice and work permit. The California Attorney General has an immigrant rights page at oag.ca.gov/immigrant, immigration@doj.ca.gov.

Plan ahead for your family: Make a family preparedness plan. Full rights and a pocket card: Your rights with DACA and If immigration agents come.

Can DACA lead to a green card or citizenship?

Not by itself. But many people with DACA have another route, and a screening is how you find out.

DACA gives you one quiet advantage: time with DACA does not count as unlawful presence. That can matter a great deal if you qualify through another route.

The three facts that decide your options

1. How you first came in. With a visa or other inspection at a border or airport, or without inspection?
2. Who your family is. Is your spouse, parent or adult child a U.S. citizen or green card holder?
3. What has happened to you. Were you a victim of a crime, trafficking or abuse? Are you under 21 with a juvenile court order about a parent?

Routes to ask about

• Family. The spouse of a U.S. citizen, an unmarried child under 21 of a citizen, and the parent of a citizen who is 21 or older are "immediate relatives." To apply from inside the U.S., a person generally must have been inspected and admitted or paroled. Coming back on advance parole counts as being paroled, which is why some DACA recipients who traveled before could later apply from here. Read Can I travel? before you count on that today.
• The 3 and 10 year bars and the I-601A waiver. More than 180 days of unlawful presence, then leaving, can mean 3 years outside the U.S. One year or more can mean 10 years. Time before age 18 and time with DACA do not count. Some people can ask USCIS to forgive the bars before leaving for a consular interview, with Form I-601A, by showing extreme hardship to a U.S. citizen or green card holder spouse or parent.
• Work. An employer can sponsor you, but the rules that help immediate relatives do not apply, so it is harder.
• Victims of crime or abuse. The U visa, the T visa for trafficking victims, and VAWA for people abused by a citizen or green card holder family member are separate from DACA. U and T visa holders may apply for a green card after 3 years.
• Under 21. Special Immigrant Juvenile Status is for young people with a state juvenile court case about abuse, neglect or abandonment by a parent. You must be under 21 when the petition is filed, so act early.

After a green card, you can usually apply for citizenship after 5 years, or after 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen.

More: Paths to a green card.

What changed in 2025 and 2026?

Only what we could confirm on official sources, as of October 21, 2026 (USCIS policy memoranda for the two memos):

What has not changed: your current DACA and work permit are valid until they end. Renewals are still decided. The fee is still $555 online or $605 on paper. The renewal window USCIS recommends is still 120 to 150 days.

Things can change fast. If you read DACA news online, check the date and look for it on the USCIS DACA page before you act.

Where can I get free help in the Bay Area?

Start with a free nonprofit, not a notario. These are free or low cost public offices and nonprofits. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

San Mateo County, including East Palo Alto (from the county legal help list):

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: (650) 326-6440
• Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County: (650) 558-0915
• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (Redwood City): (650) 587-1558, consultations by appointment
• Catholic Charities (San Mateo County): (650) 295-2160
• Stanford Law School Immigrants' Rights Clinic: (650) 724-9068
• San Mateo County Immigrant Services: (650) 363-4194, immigrantservices@smcgov.org, to help you find where to start

Santa Clara County: the Office of Immigrant Relations works with Asian Law Alliance, Pars Equality Center and Santa Clara University on DACA applications and renewals. Partner list

Anywhere in California:

• California Department of Social Services: a map of state funded immigration legal services, or call (916) 651-8017.
• California Attorney General, immigrant rights: oag.ca.gov/immigrant, immigration@doj.ca.gov

For your own case at USCIS: the Contact Center at 800-375-5283, TTY 800-767-1833.

Check before you trust. Only a lawyer or a DOJ accredited representative may give you immigration legal advice. Look up a lawyer on the State Bar of California attorney search and a representative on the Department of Justice accreditation roster. A notario is not a lawyer in the U.S. See Warning signs of an immigration scam and Free legal help in the Bay Area.

When you call, say: "I have DACA, and I need help with ____ (my renewal, a trip, an arrest, a green card screening)."

Questions people ask

Is DACA ending? Not today. Renewals are accepted and decided, and current grants stay valid until they end (USCIS, checked October 21, 2026). The court case is still open, so watch for updates on uscis.gov. See Where does DACA stand today?

Can I still renew if my DACA already expired? Yes, within one year after it ended, if USCIS did not terminate it. You cannot work until the new card comes. After one year, you must file as a first time request. See When should I renew?

Can I renew earlier than 150 days to be safe? You can, and USCIS will accept it. But it will not be decided faster, and your new DACA may overlap the old one, so you lose some time. Aim for 120 to 150 days before your end date.

Can I keep working with my receipt notice? No. DACA work permits get no automatic extension. You may work only until the date on your card. See Your gap plan.

Is there a fee waiver? No. A very small number of people get a fee exemption approved before filing. Look at Help paying DACA fees for loans and grants.

Can I pay with a money order? Not anymore, unless USCIS approved a paper payment exemption. On paper, use Form G-1450 (card) or G-1650 (bank account). Online, pay in your account.

Where do I mail my renewal from East Palo Alto? To the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox (addresses above). Check the official address page the day you mail.

I filed months ago and nothing has happened. What now? Check the processing time for Form I-821D. If your case is past it, send a case inquiry on e-Request. If your job is at risk, ask for an expedite with proof. Then ask your member of Congress. See Can I speed up my case?

Can I visit family abroad? Only with advance parole, only for a valid reason, and only after a lawyer reviews your history. Vacation is not a valid reason, and the August 2026 decision raised the risk. See Can I travel?

Do I still get in state tuition and the CA Dream Act during a gap? Yes. Those do not depend on DACA in California. See How to apply for the CA Dream Act and In state tuition.

I got arrested. Should I still renew? Talk with an immigration lawyer before you file anything. Tell your criminal defense lawyer you have DACA before you take any plea. See How do I keep my DACA safe?

Will USCIS share my DACA information with ICE? USCIS says it generally does not use it to start deportation against you or your family, except for crime, fraud or safety concerns. It can still share information for other reasons, and the policy could change.

Can I get a green card if I marry a U.S. citizen? Maybe, if the marriage is real and your history allows it. How you entered matters a lot. Get a screening first. See Can DACA lead to a green card?

Someone says they can get my first time request approved for a fee. Is that real? No. No one can get a first time request decided right now, at any price. That is a scam warning sign.

What if USCIS denies my renewal? There is no appeal for DACA. If you think USCIS made an administrative error, call the Contact Center to ask for a review, and see a clinic right away.

Renewal countdown checklist

Print this, fill in your dates, and keep it with your papers.

Legal screening sheet

Bring this to a free screening at a nonprofit. It helps the lawyer see your options faster.

You have more control than the news makes it feel. File on time, keep your papers close, and lean on the people who can help. You are not facing this alone. Do not lose hope.