We Love You Ivy Jo

My name is Wes Sandoval and this is the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to write. I don’t even know where to begin. Today, early this morning my best friend Charlie Frates and his girlfriend Maya Dahan awoke to an unthinkable tragedy. Their worst nightmare. Charlie woke up to Maya screaming and holding their beautiful 1 month old baby girl Ivy Jo Frates. She was unconscious and cold to the touch. Without hesitation Charlie grabbed his daughter, held her in his arms and in his boxers sprinted to O’Connor Hospital no more than 500 feet away. Hospital staff were unable to save her. That sweet, beautiful, precious baby girl took her last breaths peacefully swaddled in her bassinet. She left this world without a cry, without a noise.
            As you can imagine Charlie & Maya are devastated.  There are no words to express the pain they are feeling at this moment. I love both of them so much, they didn’t deserve this. Charlie and his family were there for me when my brother Jared passed away in a motorcycle accident in January 2016. I am forever grateful for his friendship & loyalty and would do anything for him. I went and visited with them last week and got to meet and hold Ivy Jo for the 1st time. Maya was tired as new mothers often are but both her and Charlie were glowing with happiness & pride over their little bundle of joy. Never have I seen my friend Charlie so happy. Ivy was a fighter from the get go. Born 6 weeks early, she was growing fast and was so cute. I looked into her eyes when I was holding her and I cried happy tears for the new parents and the beautiful family they now had. Life can often be painful, and things happen that shake you to your core. Where does this young couple go from here? How do you pick up the pieces of a loss like the one they are experiencing now? Faith, Love, & Family. These are Answers. 
             When my brother passed, a friend started a Go Fund Me to help with the funeral services and expenses. We’re going to do the same for Charlie & Maya. They are going to have to take some time off work to grieve and rest. The bills are going to pile up and living here in Silicon Valley things can get pretty tight. I’m setting a goal of $10,000 to pay for whatever they decide to do, as far as funeral arrangements. As well as some extra funds to help with bills and groceries while they mourn. Please donate if you can anything helps. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Ivy Jo we love you sweetheart and we were so blessed to have had you here in our lives for these 42 days. You sleep with the Angels now, sweetheart.