Help The Peralta-Saunders Family After Their Loss

On Saturday, September 30th 2023, the lives of Jeremy Saunders and his children were changed forever. Keila, his wife and partner of 22 years, died unexpectedly and suddenly at 37 years old of a heart attack, leaving him a widower and their children motherless at only 8 and 6 years old. Keila was kind, generous, loving and good-natured. She was a listening ear for her friends and an easy shoulder to cry on. She loved her family and friends deeply with acceptance and without judgement. Keila was the kind of friend that went out of her way to help you when you needed it and to show up when no one else would. She always put others first and gave selflessly of herself.

All of these things pale in comparison to the type of mother and wife she was. She loved her children fiercely and guided them with patience. Her arms were their safe place and her hugs could fix any broken heart. They could tell her anything and she would know just what to say to bring a smile back to their face. Keila was meant to be a mother. They were her entire world and she was theirs.

Keila was also meant to be with Jeremy. If ever two people were soulmates, these two were that. The road to one another was long and not easy. Keila was American and Jeremy is Belgian. Although they lived an ocean apart, they found ways to make it work. Their love was the kind of thing that movies are made of. They were forced to love one another from afar for many years before they could actually be together in person as they met when they were both still teenagers. After years of long distance dating, Keila courageously moved to a country where she didn't speak the languages or know the culture while Jeremy lovingly did everything he could to make her new country her home and they started building their life together. They created two beautiful, sweet children who were so very loved by them both. They shared a life so full of love and laughter that it infected everyone around them. Anyone who met them both could see the depth of love and devotion the two of them had for one another. They made plans for the future and all of the amazing things they would do together. Keila and Jeremy imagined taking their children on adventures and showing them this beautiful world. They imagined growing old together and dancing together when their children got married. And watching their own children become parents and guiding them along the way. Keila and Jeremy had planned a whole life together. In one instant, all of those wonderful dreams and the future they dreamt of together is gone.

To add to the tragedy of losing the love of his life, Jeremy has already had to overcome so many challenges in his life. Although he doesn't let it stop him and he pushes himself where others may give up, Jeremy is also physically disabled and uses crutches to walk, so some tasks such as mowing the grass or vacuuming can be challenging for him. He and Keila were such an amazing team and had figured out how to support one another to make their household work. Now that she's gone, Jeremy is going to need to find ways to bridge the gaps physically. That may require outside help, which will also require extra funds.

Additionally, with Keila gone, their household income has significantly decreased and it will take time for Jeremy to figure out the financial logistics of being a single income parent with two children to support. There are so many financial unknowns that Jeremy and the children are facing. Please help make this very tragic time a little more bearable. By donating and sharing, you will be helping ease some of the fear and uncertainty that will come in the days, months and years to come for this beautiful family. Thank you so much.