Our family is completely heartbroken. My brother Justin Perez is living every parent’s worst nightmare , the sudden, unimaginable loss of his sweet 6-year-old son Eli. One moment he was here, full of life, laughter, and love… and in the next, he was taken from us far too soon, in a way no family should ever have to experience, at the hands of his own mother.

There are no words big enough to describe this kind of pain. The heartbreak, the confusion, the emptiness — it’s something you can’t fully understand unless you’ve lived it. My brother wakes up each day trying to make it through one breath, one moment, one hour at a time. He hasn’t been able to work since that day, and right now, just getting through each day is hard enough.

I created this GoFundMe to help take some of the weight off of my brother's shoulders — the bills, the time away from work, and all the unexpected costs that come after something so devastating. Most of all, I want him to have the time and space to grieve, to heal, and to find a way to move forward while honoring his little boy’s memory.

If you’re able to give, please know that every single dollar means more than we can express. Your support — whether it’s a donation, a prayer, or even just sharing this will help my brother focus on healing instead of worrying about how to get by.

Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. Hold your children and loved ones close, tell them you love them, and never take a single day for granted. Life is fragile, and every moment we have with the people we love is a gift.