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In Loving Memory of Raul Luna

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On April 30th, 2020, at approximately 4:00 PM, I lost my father, Raul Luna, to COVID-19. My mother, 9 year old brother, and I lost our foundation—the person who kept our family together and strong. He passed away in the ICU at Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens, where he was intubated and heavily sedated for 10 days. 

For 10 days at home, my father could not eat or sleep. His fevers would not go down and his cough grew worse. There was no way for me or my little brother to see him; we could only communicate through texts and calls. 

My father was the only one who worked in our family. He wanted to keep supporting us so we wouldn’t stress during this quarantine. That was the kind of man he was: caring, hardworking, and willing to do anything for his family. 

Whenever we could, we’d talk about what we would do after the pandemic was over. He wanted to throw a high school graduation party for me, take our family on vacation, and teach me how to drive. Most of all, he wanted to take me to college in September. Unfortunately, none of this can happen.  When I called 911 for the first time on April 20th, I never imagined that watching my dad being carried out of our apartment would be the last time my little brother and I would ever see him.  

Whether or not someone knew my father well, he or she would know that my dad was a thoughtful, diligent, and kind man. He loved to laugh, sing, and make jokes whenever possible. He never complained about working from 2 AM to 5 PM on weekdays to support my family, even if it meant sacrificing many hours of sleep. He worked well with his coworkers and never hesitated to help them if needed. At our family parties, he made everyone at the dinner table smile and laugh with his stories. In his car, he and I would sing old Marco Antonio Solís and Michael Jackson songs like there was no tomorrow. He made my mother extremely happy as they would’ve been married for 20 years. My brother Bryan and I were very close to him; we talked about our goals and problems with him every day. He was the one I confided in for everything. 

Most importantly, my father taught me and Bryan the importance of earning a good education. He never had the opportunity to finish school, so he wanted nothing more than to watch his two children succeed in the future. I was ecstatic to tell him that I was one step closer to accomplishing his dream; I wish more than anything that I could’ve told him sooner.

My name is Samantha Luna. I am 17 years old, and I am the daughter of Raul Luna, our beloved father, brother, son, and friend. I am assuming responsibility for my family and helping my mother raise Bryan as a single parent. 

Any donations made to this GoFundMe campaign for my father will be dedicated to funeral costs and preparations, medical bills, living expenses, and educational plans for me and my little brother.

I wholeheartedly appreciate any help given to my family, especially during this frightening time. The memory of my loving father, Raul Luna, will live on in our hearts forever.

I will continue to pray for him, medical staff on the frontlines, and everyone who has been affected by this pandemic. I wish that you and your families are all safe and well. Thank you for all of your support.

(Para leer este descripción en Español, por favor haga clic en la sección de “Updates”)


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Donations 

  • S Howlin
    • $250
    • 4 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $1,000
    • 4 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $1,000
    • 4 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $15
    • 4 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $50
    • 4 yrs
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Organizer

Samantha Luna
Organizer
Astoria, NY

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