SAN ANTONIO — A 5-year-old Texas boy whose parents died from COVID-19 complications wants to help others this holiday season after he received hundreds of birthday gifts.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, Raiden Gonzalez, of San Antonio, lost his father, 33-year-old Adan Gonzalez, in June and his mother, 29-year-old Mariah Gonzalez, in October. Both had contracted the novel coronavirus before they died, the newspaper reported. Raiden is now in the care of his grandmother, Rozie Salinas.
Raiden Gonzalez is just four and has already suffered immense loss after COVID-19 claimed both of his parents. I spoke with him and other family members. I'll have his story at 9 and 10 pic.twitter.com/0T3kamUeCK
— Alejandra Guzman (@AlejandraG_TV) November 13, 2020
This is Adan and Mariah, Raiden’s parents who were taken too soon. They died within 100 days of one another, leaving their toddler son behind. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/uakxwtAoBo
— Alejandra Guzman (@AlejandraG_TV) November 13, 2020
Raiden’s heartbreaking story soon circulated online. Supporters around the world began donating to a GoFundMe campaign for his family, which had raised more than $170,000 as of Friday morning. Others, including members of the U.S. Air Force, flooded Raiden with gifts for his fifth birthday, which he celebrated with a socially distanced parade Saturday, WOAI-TV reported.
But now, Raiden wants to share some of his gifts with children in need, according to WOAI. He told the news station that he wants the presents he won’t be keeping to go “to somebody else who doesn’t have toys.”
“I want to give some to all of my friends,” he told WOAI.
You ALL helped put a smile on this little boy's face after he received 100's of your gifts for his birthday. Raiden is so THANKFUL, he even has enough toys to share!
— Alejandra Guzman (@AlejandraG_TV) December 3, 2020
Listen to what he has planned - it will make your ♥️ melt! Oh and of course, he has his priorities #PiñataTime🥳 pic.twitter.com/VZWpLgO1W9
The boy’s family said they are donating the gifts to a toy drive hosted by a nearby fire station, where one of Raiden’s relatives works, the TV station reported.
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