The survivor benefits for your child will end at 18. Your wife will get no benefits when you die. How do I know this, well, my wife died 10 years ago, leaving me with two grade school children. My oldest is now 19, and I stopped receiving benefits for him when he finished High School.

I am so very sorry you are so ill.

Sheeeeezzz. What a situation.

Hang in there and get better anyway.

You could look into whether you qualify for Social Security disability payments, although the Social Security Administration has a reputation for being very tough on disability claims. Even if you can't do your previous work, like truck driving, they try to find some bottle-washer type job that they say you can do.

Nevertheless, there are lawyers who specialize in helping people deal with the SSA. One of them could advise you as to whether you have any chance of qualifying.

Regardless of how your legal situation plays out, I hope that ongoing medical treatment has the prospect of getting you some relief.