mosesjgunner@gmail.com“..He loved Christmas more than anything. Now instead of watching him open presents, we’re eating Bar-S hot dogs and trying to keep going…”
SAN ANTONIO – What should have been a joyful holiday season turned into an unthinkable nightmare for the García family of the South Side. Their ten-year-old son, Gabriel, was struck in their driveway by a 2009 Nissan driven by his stepfather, David Ramos, in what appeared to be a tragic accident earlier this month. Though initially responsive, Gabriel collapsed at school three days later, slipped into a coma, and never regained consciousness
“We had everything ready for Christmas,” said his mother, Patricia García, gesturing to a half-decorated tree in the corner of their modest home. “The lights were up, presents wrapped… then the accident happened, and suddenly our whole world went dark.”
With mounting funeral costs and no insurance, relatives launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the family pay for Gabriel’s burial. The response was overwhelming – neighbors, church members, and strangers touched by the tragedy donated generously. The family relied on Patricia’s mother, 68-year-old Rosa Mendez, as she was the only one among them who had a bank account to manage the fundraiser.
But their hope turned to despair when Mrs. Mendez received what appeared to be an official-looking document in the mail regarding the GoFundMe campaign. Believing it was legitimate paperwork related to the donations, she provided her banking information as requested. Within hours, the account was emptied – taking with it all the funeral donations and her own modest savings.
“Mamá thought she was doing everything right,” Patricia explained, her voice heavy with emotion. “She’s not used to all this online banking stuff. When that letter came asking for her account information, she thought it was part of the process. Now everything’s gone – the funeral money, her social security deposit, everything.”
“Everything – just gone,” Patricia whispered, dabbing at her eyes with a worn tissue. “We had to choose between keeping the lights on and buying food. Some nights, dinner is just Bar-S hot dogs or Buddig turkey on white bread. The kids hate it, but what choice do we have?”
The family’s refrigerator recently stopped working, forcing them to store their meager supplies in a borrowed Styrofoam cooler. “We keep the hot dogs and lunch meat on ice,” Patricia explained. “It’s not ideal, but we’re trying to survive day by day.”
Despite repeated attempts to recover the stolen funds through their bank, the family has had no success. The timing couldn’t be worse – with winter setting in and utility bills mounting, Patricia fears they may lose their heating soon.
Local community members have begun leaving food donations and essential items on the family’s porch. “People are kind,” Patricia said softly, touching a school photo of her son smiling broadly at the camera. “But nothing can fill the emptiness Gabriel left behind. He loved Christmas more than anything. Now instead of watching him open presents, we’re eating Bar-S hot dogs and trying to keep going.”
The García family’s tragedy has resonated throughout the South Side community, with several local churches holding prayer vigils in Gabriel’s memory. A small memorial of flowers, cards, and stuffed animals continues to grow outside their modest home, a testament to how deeply this loss has affected their neighbors.
