Raising money for Luis’s Funeral

On September 2nd, 2020, Luis Hernández drowned in Panamá Beach. 

We went to Florida from Georgia so my stepdad, Luis, and my mom, Maria, could take a vacation from work because they haven’t taken a break in over two years. On Tuesday afternoon we went to the beach for a few hours and the waves were pushing us forward instead of pulling us in. On Wednesday, we went again around 12 pm and we had just gotten there when my two sisters Jessica and Natalie started being pulled in farther into the bay by the waves.  Luis went in to get them, but the waves kept pulling them in. The people around us who were at the beach were able to get Natalie and Jessica out, but they got Luis and he was unconscious. They tried to get him to breath again when we were waiting for the paramedics. Once they arrived they tried everything they had in their car, but eventually took him to the hospital. There, they tried an hour to revive him, but nothing worked.

Luis has a daughter, her name is Alessandra Rocio Martinez, she’s only 4 years old and she’s completely saddened over the fact that her dad is gone. She loves her father so much. She was his world, they would always go out together and he would look over her.

Luis was a stepdad to me and my other 3 siblings, Natalie, Jessica, and Diego. He was always so sweet toward us and we came to love him very much. We are all so sad and heartbroken as well.

My mom is completely broken over this. They were so close and had been together for a few years. He always helped her whenever she needed it. I never saw my mom more happy then when she was with him. She’s still very much in shock.

This death was so unexpected. We were all so happy, especially Luis. We hadn’t even been at the beach for even 10 minutes before this occurred

Right now it is uncertain what’s going to happen. We need to send his body back to Georgia first and then his family is wishing that we send his body to Guatemala. Transporting his body is very expensive and we do not have the funds to do that at the moment. If you could share or donate, it would help us out a lot. 

I appreciate anything you are willing to do to help. 

Thank you to those who pulled everyone out of the water and tried to revive him

Thank you to those at the beach who brought us home while my mom and Luis went to the hospital. 

Thank you to Lisa who helped us pray and calm us down at the beach when everything was happening, and who stayed with us for hours to make sure we were taken care of

Thank you to the paramedics who did everything they could