To make circumstances worse on January 18, 1895 twelve-year-old Henry Estby died from health issues. Helga's own health was becoming worse. Her last two pregnancies had been hard on her body. In addition to that, the gynecological surgeries left her much weaker. With the threat of foreclosure on the farm, the fear and stress Helga felt must have been crushing.​

The Story of ​​​Helga Estby - The Panic of 1893: The Bottom Out, Everything Down

The Panic of 1893 was especially hard on Eastern Washington farmers.

Barter and trade became the new currency and borrowing in hopes of a better harvest the next year was an increasingly common practice. The Estbys had  already come into debt before the panic because of Helga's injury and resulting surgeries. Ole had an accident as well and could not perform hard labor.

Between his accident, and the lack of demand for his carpentry, there was no work for Ole. The family came into the habit of borrowing one loan to pay off the last. By July 6, 1894 the Estbys were $1,000 in debt, having borrowed on their mortgage. ​

The Panic of 1893 (May 1893 - November 1897) was set off by the folding of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad and the National Cordage Company. The two companies were the United States largest employers making their closure and the resulting economic panic especially dramatic. Banks, railroads, and steel mills were hit the hardest and fell into bankruptcy along with over 15,000 businesses.