Joseph Martinez Going Home Fund
Donation protected
On April 30, 2016 our brother Joseph Gilbert Martinez who we called "Baby Joe" was called home to be with our Heavenly Father. I'd like to take this time to share with you about a few recent events and memories that I have of my brother and in the last few weeks while he was under my care.
Last year, Joe was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, unfortunately this year his condition worsened and in this last month we were told that he had stage four liver disease . He was placed on hospice care almost a month ago and lived with me and my wife in Long Beach where he remained with us in his last days.
A few days ago as we were in the house I had asked him, " Brother, what can I do for you?" He replied," I want to ride your bike." We both chuckled because we both knew that wasn't possible because of how weak he was and the only other way to ride my bike was for me to take him. Well for those of you who ride bikes and Harley's like myself, theres an unwritten rule, that you are not allowed to have another man ride on the back of your bike. So I'm sure you understand my dilemma LOL...but as a brother I knew that this was one of the last things that I could grant him. Some rules are meant to be broken, and this rule I gladly broke for him. He hopped on the back of my bike and we road around the block. Since he wasn't able to withstand being on the bike for a long period of time, in those ten minutes that I got to hear him smile while holding on me for dear life, I am glad I will have that memory embedded in my heart forever.
We kept him comfortable during the time that he was with us. We made him a bed in the livingroom that he was grateful for and never complained while being in our small one bedroom apartment. The day before he passed, as much as this may sound crazy, I laid next to him in his bed and I told him that I was going to be with him through it all and if I could walk with him into the gates of Heaven I would." He said, " Brother, when you get there, I'll have them wide open for you." I hugged him and I cried.
The other day in the early morning we sat outside on the porch and we talked about so many things. We can hear some of our neighbors aross the street praying. So we walked over to them to ask if they could pray for not only him, but us. The neighbor stopped us before we walked to his doorstep and he put his hand up as if to say stop and said," You dont need to say anything, I already know what you need." Both my brother and I began to weep. I am a man of faith and with that being said, I wanted to make sure and ask if he had given his life to Christ? I wanted him to know what I know that God is love and that He is a forgiving God. No matter what he had done in the past and what mistakes he has made, he was forgiven and loved by Him. He said," The crazy things is, is that it took me 48 years to appreciate the little things in life like listening to the sound of birds, and watching the sun rise. He may not be able to do those things with me again, but his view and sounds that he will hear will be so much better than we could ever imagine. The day that he died he could see that I was scared and he told me," Brother, why are you scared, I know where I'M GOING!" I know in my heart that he had accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. I am forever thankful for that.
This is the first time I have ever experienced a death of a sibling. I feel like every death causes different feelings compared to a parent, a sibling, a grandparent, or a friend. I thought that we would continue to sit around and talk stories, like we did when we were younger, but God needed him more. I will forever be grateful for our childhood memories and his last days with me.
I wanted to give you a glance of him from my view. I know that times are challenging these days for everyone, so you can imagine what a challenge this is for our family. I am asking if you would kindly donate any amount of monetary value towards his funeral expenses to help lay our brother to rest. We are using every avenue possible to gather enough funds to pay for his Home Going. Our family thanks you in advance and we appreciate all the support and welcome all prayers.
Thank You,
The Romero and Martinez Families
Last year, Joe was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, unfortunately this year his condition worsened and in this last month we were told that he had stage four liver disease . He was placed on hospice care almost a month ago and lived with me and my wife in Long Beach where he remained with us in his last days.
A few days ago as we were in the house I had asked him, " Brother, what can I do for you?" He replied," I want to ride your bike." We both chuckled because we both knew that wasn't possible because of how weak he was and the only other way to ride my bike was for me to take him. Well for those of you who ride bikes and Harley's like myself, theres an unwritten rule, that you are not allowed to have another man ride on the back of your bike. So I'm sure you understand my dilemma LOL...but as a brother I knew that this was one of the last things that I could grant him. Some rules are meant to be broken, and this rule I gladly broke for him. He hopped on the back of my bike and we road around the block. Since he wasn't able to withstand being on the bike for a long period of time, in those ten minutes that I got to hear him smile while holding on me for dear life, I am glad I will have that memory embedded in my heart forever.
We kept him comfortable during the time that he was with us. We made him a bed in the livingroom that he was grateful for and never complained while being in our small one bedroom apartment. The day before he passed, as much as this may sound crazy, I laid next to him in his bed and I told him that I was going to be with him through it all and if I could walk with him into the gates of Heaven I would." He said, " Brother, when you get there, I'll have them wide open for you." I hugged him and I cried.
The other day in the early morning we sat outside on the porch and we talked about so many things. We can hear some of our neighbors aross the street praying. So we walked over to them to ask if they could pray for not only him, but us. The neighbor stopped us before we walked to his doorstep and he put his hand up as if to say stop and said," You dont need to say anything, I already know what you need." Both my brother and I began to weep. I am a man of faith and with that being said, I wanted to make sure and ask if he had given his life to Christ? I wanted him to know what I know that God is love and that He is a forgiving God. No matter what he had done in the past and what mistakes he has made, he was forgiven and loved by Him. He said," The crazy things is, is that it took me 48 years to appreciate the little things in life like listening to the sound of birds, and watching the sun rise. He may not be able to do those things with me again, but his view and sounds that he will hear will be so much better than we could ever imagine. The day that he died he could see that I was scared and he told me," Brother, why are you scared, I know where I'M GOING!" I know in my heart that he had accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. I am forever thankful for that.
This is the first time I have ever experienced a death of a sibling. I feel like every death causes different feelings compared to a parent, a sibling, a grandparent, or a friend. I thought that we would continue to sit around and talk stories, like we did when we were younger, but God needed him more. I will forever be grateful for our childhood memories and his last days with me.
I wanted to give you a glance of him from my view. I know that times are challenging these days for everyone, so you can imagine what a challenge this is for our family. I am asking if you would kindly donate any amount of monetary value towards his funeral expenses to help lay our brother to rest. We are using every avenue possible to gather enough funds to pay for his Home Going. Our family thanks you in advance and we appreciate all the support and welcome all prayers.
Thank You,
The Romero and Martinez Families
Organizer
Dolores Romero
Organizer
Long Beach, CA
