Help an Indigenous Family Rebuild After Their Tragic Loss Sayulita Storm - GoFundMe
go to original August 17, 2023

On July 21, the Martinez Lopez family's world crumbled. Minutes of distraction led to a tragedy that no parent should ever have to endure.

Their 2-year-old daughter, Mariel, wandered away from their market stall where they sell artesanía/handicrafts as her 22-year-old mother, Patricia, tended to her one year old baby sister. Gone for less than five minutes, they began to search for her everywhere.

The 2 year old child’s body was found an hour later. 2 year old Mariel had slid under the fence and drowned at the Oromapas water treatment plant on Avenida Palmar by the entrance to the market. She was taken to the Sayuhealth clinic out by the highway by ambulance where they tried to resuscitate her, but it was too late.

In the wake of this devastating loss, the Martinez Lopez family faces a mountain of challenges. The financial burden from hospital bills, the ambulance ride, and the cost of repatriating her body to their tiny Oaxacan town weighs heavily on their already fragile hearts. The funeral, tomb, lost work, and travel expenses have plunged them into debt after already having very little.

I am personally planning to help this family with a modest financial contribution of my own. I want to invite anyone who feels called to to donate to this gofundme to help them get back on their feet. I will accept the donation money through my personal US bank account (as required by gofundme), transfer the money to my Mexican bank and then take the money out in cash pesos and give it to the family to help them repay the debts they are facing as a result of the devastating loss of their middle child.

Here’s what I’m fundraising to help the family cover:

Medical Bills and Ambulance Ride: Mariel’s medical treatment and ambulance transport resulted in expenses that their limited resources could hardly cover. Sayuhealth is it comping 80% of their bill, but the 20% remains is an overwhelming amount for this family.

Repatriation: Sending Mariel’s body back to their Oaxacan town for burial meant additional costs for transportation and funeral arrangements.

Funeral and Tomb: The cost of the funeral service and a dignified resting place for Mariel have further strained their finances.

Lost Work and Travel: The family's work has been interrupted due to the tragedy, causing them to lose essential income.

Your contribution, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in their lives.

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