Tragedy for Whittier family in 2016

Losing both parents in seven months?

This can't be real.  And yet it is real for Emily and John from Whittier, California.

“FIGHT ON, Kathy!”
Through pink ribbon marches, and fund raisers, and all those doctor visits, these sweet kids had been mom’s champions.

We all were behind the slogan! “FIGHT ON, Kathy!” We believed she’d lick this cancer!

But now, just before Christmas, she has lost the fight.

Only two days after losing this fight, Emily turned fifteen.  John, Kathy’s son had turned thirteen in November.
How can you celebrate a birthday while watching your mom struggle to breathe?

Now we are all struggling to breathe.

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In her fight against cancer, Kathy Ramirez was fierce. This was not her first health battle. This was the second war she’d fought against breast cancer. This second time around, it seemed to have attacked her everywhere, quickly. It was a fateful day this past March that  the results came in, the cancer was back.

She was willing herself to stay alive for her kids. 

And yet, on December 19th, early in the morning, she could no longer fight on. Her mortal body lost the fight. She collapsed as she was making her way out of the bed to her wheelchair.  She was forty-eight when her body proved weaker than her will. 

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Many women fight this awful disease with family by their side, and this had been Kathy's story. 

Her husband David was good natured, loving, generous and kind. He was a talented master craftsman, woodworker and carpenter. In the economic recession his career took a downturn. For a very long time there was little work for this hardworking family man. They eventually gave up the mortgage payments on their Whittier home and walked away from it. To save money, they moved in with with Kathy’s parents 40 mintues away. Everyday, to keep some stability in the midst of loss, someone from the family would drive the kids to their school back near their old home. They all FOUGHT ON. They worked toward getting back on their feet. 

David and Kathy refused to attend their own pity parties and act like victims. They took deep breaths, worked hard, raised their kids, enjoyed their friends. In 2014, the family rented a house back in Whittier. The kids could live nearer to their school and friends again. They were putting their lives back together, and then Kathy’s cancer returned.

As if breast cancer isn't terrible enough, something unbelievable happened. 

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It was Memorial Weekend. The doctors had ordered Kathy to take a short break from chemotherapy treatments. She had congestive heart failure and was on oxygen. Kathy was resting to gain enough strength for more treatments. Their family of four was at home on Sunday night when David died of unexpected aortic aneurysm.

No one could believe it. It was surreal. The focus had been Kathy’s battle, and then in a few moments, David was gone.

Two parents in one year.

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One family member wrote: “Every step has left its scar and another layer to our sorrow. The children will go on, just as we all will. Yet, life for them will be different and difficult on every level. Their family will continue to pour into, pray with, and protect them just as they always have. But the life long impact and burdens they will bear are immeasurable.”

This beautiful extended family has experienced other hardships we won’t explain here. We know this family is capable, responsible, generous and hardworking. Their hardships have been going on since before the children took their first breaths!  

As Karin, Kathy's twin sister,  and her family now take over as guardians for Emily and John, we want to see them thrive after this loss. We want to prove to Emily and John that there is hope for their future in the midst of their tragedy. We want them all to breathe easier under the weight of this grief and responsibility. The community support along the way has been a tribute to what kind of people Kathy and David are. Were. 
 
It’s time to ask a broader circle to FIGHT ON with us, for them.

As we grieve that she is gone, we know we can still FIGHT ON for her! With this GoFundMe campaign, we are championing for her children and their future. 

GoFundMe community: You can help us raise MORE than the stated goal above! If we raise enough money, the Trust can generate interest income to take care of Emily and John. Imagine it being enough for the family's ongoing support! 

Let’s put a TWELVE in front of that figure.

Let's make it $1,2 ... 75,000!

In hundreds of gifts large or small, we can build a financial tribute to the FIGHT ON legacy of David & Kathy Ramirez. Theirs is a legacy of faith, good character, perseverance and determination. You can breathe in them a legacy of hope!

We are thankful we live in a world where strangers are generous. We invite you to FIGHT ON with us!

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The “Ramirez Family Trust Fund” has been established under legal advice by Michael Conner and Karin Mitchell. They are Kathy's brother and sister; family who are in succession to raise the children. It is for Emily and John Ramirez, for their future care and education. 
This GoFundMe campaign raised over $8,000 in 8 months since David’s death. In the days since Kathy joined him in heaven it has grown to over $13,000. There is also a PayPal method for giving directly to her bank account. PayPal monies are helping to cover immediate expenses in the memorial and transition. 

Read more about the story and the amazing people who've been walking this journey with them: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/KathyRamirez/

If you know them, tell your Ramirez stories in the comments below...


The last photo taken of Kathy and the kids. Taken to express their gratitude, and to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. 

One of Kathy and David's favorite photos together ❤️