Cesar's Funeral and Other Expenses

Hello to all who can help the family of Cesar Vasquez , whether by donation or a prayer. 

My name is Barbara Garcia, and I am an educator in the Red Clay Consolidated School District in Wilmington, Delaware.  I am one of several who have worked very closely with Cesar since he came to Delaware when he first became ill with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in September of 2009.

Cesar was very brave, and he fought his illness with so much courage and strength over the years.  After three periods of remission from his cancer, Cesar and his family were  once again told on May 4th that his cancer was back.  This time, however, the news was imminent.  There was nothing the doctors could do anymore.  The family was told he may have up to a month to live. 
Cesar sadly passed away today, June 1st, 2016, at home with his family around him.

Cesar was due to graduate from school this year.  When we first learned of his failing condition, we organized a graduation ceremony at the hospital, Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Delaware.  It was a beautiful ceremony, and Cesar was a part of the planning of this event.  When I went to the hospital to see him and get things set up for the ceremony, he clearly told me that he wanted to "walk."  His aunt thought he wanted to take a walk, but I knew what he meant...  So he walked.  It took every muscle in his body and all the spirit in his soul, but he walked down that aisle. 

He was wheeled to the community room in his wheel chair, he stood up, and he walked to the tune of pomp and circumstance down the aisle...and he sat down and proceeded to listen to every speaker who had wonderful stories to tell about him.  He was then presented with his certificate.  You can see this part in the picture I posted.  Family, friends, hospital staff, educators and others from state agencies were present to celebrate his successful years of education.

Cesar will be missed by all of us, but we are thankful that he no longer has pain and suffering.  The family has spent 100% of their time this last month (and many other months previously) by Cesar's side.  The family is making plans for his funeral, and they are hard pressed financially.  The family was uprooted to come to Delaware due to Cesar's illness, and the reputation of Nemours/AI DuPont Hospital is what brought them here.  They sacrificed everything they had to attend to the most important life event at the time, Cesar's much needed treatment and recuperation.  Unfortunately, times have been hard for them these last few years since coming to Delaware.   It was difficult for his parents to maintain employment during these periods of illness, but his father worked a couple of different jobs doing the best he can, and will be returning to his primary  job soon. Cesar's parents and his 5 other siblings have survived a very challenging period of time, but donations are strongly needed to help them pay for funeral expenses and other miscellaneous  expenses related to this very sad time in their lives.

There is a degree of urgency to the request for donations, due to the nature of timeliness in planning for a funeral.  The family would like to have a service and be able to bury Cesar in a cemetary.  The idea of cremation is not what they want to do for their young son.  I was over to see the family at their home yesterday, and his mother cried at the thought of cremation.  They know that a burial is more expensive, but they are hoping friends and strangers alike may be able to help them with their wish for a  funeral and burial.

The family is extremely humble, and so was Cesar.  I explained to Dad about Gofundme, and he was too humble to ask for this himself.  However, I know the family would be extremely grateful for any assistance you can give them.

Please help this family in whatever way you can:  a donation here on Gofundme, non-monetary donations, services to help this family, or your prayers.

May Cesar rest in peace and be free from pain and suffering.  God bless you all.

...What we are is God's gift to us.  What we become is our gift to God
~Eleanor Powell