Prayers for your wife, PIC.
I hear you on these "scams". But we all knew what we were getting in to. I, too, got people involved that got hurt - because I was so damn convinced that this thing had potential to be a life-changing investment. I was so wrong.
I'm the same age as you and I'm still working, mainly because of poor investments. The money i have lost on SFMI, GHDC and a couple of other total dogs - had I invested it wisely, would mean I could retire in relative luxury now instead of work til I drop. My bad, but I still think the Q's should be prosecuted for the fraud they perpetrated on us.