There are moments in life that break us in ways we never thought possible—moments that shatter the world we knew in an instant. There are no words big enough to describe the pain our family is drowning in right now. Our world changed in one terrible moment — a moment we still can’t fully understand, a moment we wish we could wake up from. Losing him so suddenly, so young, in such a tragic accident has broken us in ways we didn’t even know were possible.

He was more than just loved—he was a source of light for everyone around him. He had a smile that could chase away the darkest clouds, and a voice that carried joy whether he was singing, laughing, or simply talking with the people he cared about. He loved soccer, he loved being with his family and friends, and he loved life with a purity and innocence that is rare in this world.

He was sweet. He was bubbly. He was respectful. He was kind. He was the kind of young man you couldn’t help but admire—someone whose gentle spirit stayed with you long after he left the room.

And now, that room… that space… that place in our lives is painfully, unbearably empty. We’re left with silence where his voice used to be. Empty space where his laughter once lived. A piece of our family missing that can never, ever be replaced.

Ze leaves behind six siblings—one brother, Sue, and five sisters, Mailee, Yeng, Jamie, Victoria, and Sofia—who did not just love him, but depended on him. They grew up with nothing but each other, learning to survive and endure side by side. In that shared struggle, Ze became their anchor. Though he was not the oldest, he carried the weight of responsibility, guidance, and protection as if it were his calling. His siblings looked to him for direction, for comfort, for strength when life felt too heavy.

He had dreams. Real dreams. A bright future that was just beginning. A lifetime of moments he deserved to experience. But life took him from us far too soon, long before he ever had the chance to become all the incredible things we knew he would be. No family is ever prepared to lose someone so young—someone who should have had decades ahead of him, not days cut short. He was too young to leave this world. Too young to be gone. Too young for us to be planning a funeral instead of watching him grow into the incredible person he was becoming.

The truth is… we are lost right now.

We are hurting.

We are trying to breathe through a pain that does not let go.

We are creating this GoFundMe because, in the middle of our grief, we are faced with the heavy burden of funeral costs—something no family should have to worry about while trying to survive heartbreak this deep. We want to honor him with a beautiful, dignified farewell, one worthy of the love he gave so freely to everyone who knew him.

If you can find it in your heart to help—whether through donating, sharing, or simply praying for our family—please know that your kindness will forever be remembered. Your support helps us give him the goodbye he deserves, and it helps carry us through a pain no words can truly describe.

Thank you for seeing our pain.

Thank you for caring.

Thank you for holding our family close as we try to navigate a world that suddenly feels so much colder without him.

Thank you for helping us say goodbye to someone we will love for the rest of our lives.

For anyone who prefers to donate through other methods, you can also use:

Venmo: @choua-thao-11

PayPal: @choualovee3

All contributions go directly toward funeral and memorial expenses.

Thank you for your support.