My name is Eduardo Paredes. My older brother, Jesus, passed away quickly and suddenly on August 23, 2021. While we are still reeling in disbelief from his sudden departure, pressing matters need attending to, most of which are his final expenses. I need to pay the funeral home by tomorrow, August 27, 2021. I apologize for not creating this fundraiser sooner, but I was swamped with attending to his final business affairs, as well as comforting my remaining brothers.

My brothers and I would be most grateful if you could donate anything you could. I'm sure my late brother would appreciate it as well. He was a helper. He was man of faith to the very end, a man of the arts, as anyone who knew him can attest to. That's what you could describe him as. He loved our mother, who we lost just eight months ago. He put his life on hold to care for her, cook for her, bathe her, dress her, give her medications. We all pitched in but my brother Jesus just outshone us all with his care of our mother.

Jesus was always my big brother, in more ways than one. He towered over me, at 6 feet tall. He kept me safe when I was a skinny little spaghetti strand in elementary school. No one dared bully me throughout my school years, because they knew that the big guy would come for them! He saved my life, quite literally, when I choked on a candy. Our mother had taught us CPR and Heimlich maneuvers, and he jumped into action without hesitation and dislodged the candy from my throat, allowing me to breathe. For that, I am ever grateful, and I am alive today because of him.

As you could probably tell, his closest friends are still in shock, as are we, his brothers. I still half expect his name to come across my phone; I still expect his calls or texts. This tragedy has left us lost and heartbroken, and I ask any and all to please help us with whatever you can afford to part with.

Thank you, and may God bless you now and always.

-Eduardo Paredes