A young father's death

Norberto Padilla, my dearest young and only brother has left his body in a horse accident. His youngest child, Alondra, age 6, also riding her horse, witnessed her papa's horse desperately trying to extricate himself from mud in the river they were crossing. Here papa's horse fell on top of him, keeping Norberto under water too long for the little girl to help the horse stand. She alone had to ride alone the one mile back home to break the news to her mama, her sister Paloma and brother Nor. Now, without their breadwinner (Norberto had a horseback riding business into Copper Canyon, Chihuahua, Mexico), wife Monica and the three children, ages 13, 9, and 6, so unexpectedly left without husband and father, will be grateful for any help offered. These are proud people; honest, generous and caregivers to their community. Never have they asked for favors. Norberto often spoke of his happiness, defining his success not by money, but by the degree of happiness he felt having the love of his children, and sharing his love of Nature and animals with them. Together they rode, they camped out in the mountains, and they hiked the canyons. His devotion to these children was greatly admired by his community. As one who knew him said of Norberto,"Being with him made you feel good about yourself." As the wake continues, as we all grieve our heavy loss, my hope is to bring a light back into the lives of Norberto's children and wife. Muchos gracias.