Who is the bigger winner, the runner who, all unencumbered, crosses the finish line swiftly, or the runner who finishes in the dark after everyone else has gone home because he stopped to help an injured comrade across the finish line with him?

You have a lot of weight to carry. I don't think you've failed. You've just delayed finishing, perhaps until after the race has closed.

Real life is more important than your NaNo right now, and you're starting the next generation off right. I call that a big win.