Help Us Celebrate Daniel's Life and Legacy

Hello everyone,

My name is Armando, and I'm making this memorial fundraiser for my brother Daniel Hernandez Reyes, who passed away on March 21, 2025.

Daniel (32) had mixed cerebral palsy and delayed developmental issues; his cognitive functions were equivalent to those of a 3-year-old. These were his medical conditions since birth. Despite everything, Daniel had always maintained a free-spirited attitude towards life. His disability never stopped him from enjoying music and dancing to the best of his ability. From going on trips to the farmers’ market with my mom to seeking thrills driving down the winding roads of the Angeles National Forest, Daniel was always happy to be alive and expressed his excitement with those surrounding him.

In late June 2024, my brother was admitted to Cedars Sinai due to some unusual facial swelling. He was kept for observation. For the first two weeks, he had intermittent health episodes. Near the third week, his blood pressure and sugar levels suddenly dropped. Code blue was called, and he was immediately transferred to the ICU.

His first stay at the ICU came with various challenges, such as developing life-threatening infections that had to be treated with strong antibiotics. The survival rate was 50%. Despite the odds, he managed to survive. However, his survival came with a price. A tracheostomy collar had to be installed to prevent him from aspirating. Daniel received all his nutritional needs through a gastrostomy tube, a small, flexible tube surgically inserted through the abdomen into the stomach.

His total 9-month stay came with various challenges. A vicious cycle of catching new infections, newfound medical conditions, rounds of harsh antibiotics, and the development of stage 4 bed ulcers. Despite all the hardships thrown at him, he always found the strength to smile.

On February 26, 2025, he was given a medication that caused him to violently throw up 30 minutes after ingesting. This was the start of his decline. Sadly, on March 6, his blood pressure dropped, and his organs went into septic shock. He was rushed back to the ICU again.

The ICU medical team worked tirelessly to find a solution. As days went on, his organs started to lose functionality. Eventually, we received the grim news that it was only a matter of time before his passing.

At 08:14 on March 21, 2025, Daniel passed away peacefully. His body will finally have the rest it deserves. He valiantly endured these past 9 months, and we hope to honor his resilience through a proper burial memorial.

This GoFundMe has been set up to assist with the funeral and memorial expenses, and to help ease the financial burden during this heartbreaking time. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a difference. We will provide an update of the location, date, and time once we figure out the fine details for the burial memorial.