Support Nathen's Recovery After a Traumatic Brain Injury

On April 20th, 2025, our beloved son and brother, Nathen Gonzalez, was in a motorbike accident where he suffered a level 4 traumatic brain injury. He was rushed to Pomona Valley Hospital, where his amazing team of doctors and nurses acted quickly, performing an emergency craniectomy and ventriculostomy to relieve the mounting pressure on his brain.

The surgery was considered a success, but it only marks the beginning of a long road to recovery. Nathen currently has a question mark-shaped piece of his skull missing that will be replaced in 3–6 months with either his own bone or a metal plate. If you know Nathen, he’s probably hoping for the metal plate to up his street cred!

While we are hoping and praying for a 100% recovery, his motor skills and cognitive ability are still unclear and likely will remain that way for the next year. We are slowly preparing for a world in which he may need rehabilitative care for the foreseeable future. Even in the best-case scenario, he will likely need to relearn how to walk, talk, and feed himself.

This will be a long road of healing, and when supporting a loved one who has suffered a life-altering injury, there is a marathon of caretaking, financial responsibility, and diligently navigating the American health care system. While we are in deep gratitude that Nathen survived the accident, an important reality we are facing is Nathen turning 26 on August 19th, which means he will age out of his current health insurance plan. We are urgently raising funds to help cover the costs already incurred and to prepare for the significant expenses ahead.

What we’ve always known and what has become even more apparent now is how deeply Nathen is loved by his community. There has not been a second he’s been alone in the hospital. I've had the pleasure of meeting old friends, new friends, coworkers, even his landlord, and they have all said the same thing: "Nathen is like family to us."

When he was 5 years old, he was awarded the “kind spirit” award, and he has carried that kind spirit through his entire life. I see this most clearly in how he shows up in his loving relationship with his girlfriend Jessica and her daughter Bella. Nathen has been so proud to share the life he is building with Jess and Bella as her bonus dad.

There was a moment during our time together at Christmas when Bella was having a hard day and started crying when she was told No. Nathen sat down with her, held her while she cried, explained the reasoning for the No, and said, “It’s okay to cry and have feelings about this. I’m not mad at you. I’m not upset with you, and just because I said no doesn’t mean I don’t love you.” It profoundly touched me to see Nathen masterfully hold space for her emotions, validate her, and teach her that she can withstand uncomfortable feelings and still be loved.

Nathen has done that for all of us. He is the first person to buy someone a hot meal, offer a ride when needed, lend an ear to vent, and validate you every step of the way, while delivering a healthy dose of hard truths (runs in the family). The best part about Nathen is that he lets you show up exactly how you are without ever trying to change you, which often invites a space for your own evolution. Whether it’s his mom, me, his chosen family, his partner, or a random stranger on the street, Nathen has been a pillar in so many people’s lives. We are now hoping that you will become a pillar in his healing through your donation.

Just before the accident, Nathen had accepted his admission to Cal State Fullerton to pursue a degree in Engineering. We fully believe we will see him cross that stage, finish building his FXR, laugh with his friends tinkering in the garage, and roller skate with Bella again. We humbly ask for your support to help make Nathen’s recovery a reality and ensure he receives the best care possible. No amount is too small, and know that your donations will go directly to helping Nathen survive this.

Thank you for reading our story, for loving my little brother as much as we do, and supporting our family. We hope to come back with a better update soon.

In community,

Alyshia Gonzalez