The Makayla & Branden Gonzales Fund

On February 1, 2015, a horrific and fatal car accident in San Jose, CA, claimed the lives of husband/wife Gilbert and Beth Gonzales and close friend George Godinez (not pictured). Each one leaves behind a tight network of grief-stricken family and close friends. And, although it is extremely difficult to know they will each grieve, nothing is as heart-wrenching as imagining Gilbert and Beth's two young children, Makayla, 4, and Branden, 2, being left without both their mommy and daddy...for the rest of their lives. 

There is a fund already established here to help the familes of all three victims with funeral services, so this separate fund has been established to benefit sweet Makayla and Branden. The lives of so many people have been turned upside down in the blink of an eye, but, hopefully the healing process and transition into the new life they are all being forced to face will seem just a little less heavy for both the children and those committed to now see after and provide for them.

::You dreamed of us last night,
and what we said was true.
We may not be with you on earth,
but we are still with you;
You took our hand and asked us
if we were truly gone.
We smiled at you and said, no babies, 
you are not alone.
We'll always be right there with you
through all your pain and grief.
Our hope for you each day is
you somehow find relief.
We know how much you love us
and you'll think of us all the time.
Just know that we are okay
and we'll see you again one day.
Please remember that with each new dawn 
we are not gone.
-Mommy and Daddy
(original version of poem written by Shirley Tripp Johnson)

Gilbert and Beth, your babies are in loving hands. 
May you all be resting in peace.