07/27/2024
In the past couple weeks I have been to two Celebrations of Life, one for my longtime friend Dr Jim Adams. He lived a full and rich life full of family, faith and family.
Today I paid my respects for Junior Fernandez , a wonderful young man whose life was cut short and has been called home way too early at the tender age of 23 years old. My heart aches for Juniors parents Joe N Jamie Fernandez.
I’ve known Junior a long time, he always impressed me, he was so gregarious, even competitors were fans of his, he was one of Gods bright lights. Junior always had an infectious smile, he might of passed at 23 but he lived everyday with full intent. He wrestled every match the way he lived, full throttle.
Junior was married with 3 very young girls and Leukemia stole from Junior the opportunity to continue working hard for his girls. I can only imagine the anguish he must of felt as his life was slipping away knowing he was going to miss watching his girls growing up and worse, wondering how his girls were going to grow up and reach their dreams and goals without him being there to cover the financial demands that worthwhile opportunities require.
I have had a recurring thought this week that keeps rising to the top of my thoughts and today was drumming pretty loudly in my mind at the Service that we need to gather as friends and make a donation to three separate funds for each of Juniors daughters…Ava Marie, Jose Maria and Camila Diane Fernandez.
Because of their very young age, if we could all donate $10,$25,$50,$100,$500,$1000 or more to each of the girls and raise $10,000 for each girl or more so we can put those in long term CD saving funds so that when the girls mature so will the investments and Juniors girls will have the funds they need after High School to persue their goals and dreams because their dad is gone.
I can write checks and will but I want all my friends and those in the wrestling community to all chip in a little or a lot according to your ability. Skip a meal, skip a night out save the money and allocate it to these three girls.
You can send me a private message and I’ll tell you where to send the money. No Go fund-me account, they take a cut for the service. 100% of the funds will go to the girls. Show your heart, donate like these girls were your daughters or granddaughters. Let’s raise a lot for these girls and let Junior rest in peace.
