A family in Maine is experiencing an unimaginable and heartbreaking Christmas following the tragic death of their 5-year-old child, Simon Gonzalez, in a school bus crash just earlier in the week. What once meant witnessing their favorite season of the year, with all the accompanying excitement, has now become associated with the silence of grief.
Simon’s grandfather told his grandson that “all the Christmas decorations have been packed away.” The lights, the tree, and the Christmas spirit are nothing more than painful reminders to them of the loss they have suffered in life. “Without Simon’s laughter and zest for life, the joy of Christmas is no longer an option.”
Simon was a kindergarten student who had a huge heart for living. He loved the simple things in life, especially when he was outdoors. His favorite things in life included going on camping adventures, snowmobiling, and ice fishing with his family. Moreover, he loved doing whatever he could to help out his family, including simple tasks such as mowing the lawn. This is how Simon appeared to those who really knew him.
To his grandfather, Simon was more than just a grandchild. To his grandfather, Simon was a companion who was always with him, giving him a purpose to live. There were so many times the grandfather spent with Simon that were etched in his memory as memories, but those same memories are now causing pain to a family who has recently lost a child who was every thing to them.
The accident took place just under a half mile from where Simon attended elementary school. Only one other child was on the school bus at the time of the accident. He was Simon’s half-brother. He survived. The school bus driver has been put on administrative leave while the incident is being investigated. There are as yet no charges that have been made.
While the familial preparations for the farewell are being done, the message that Simon’s grandfather has for all parents and grandparents is that they should hold their moments dear, hug their kids a little harder, and never think that there will be time for tomorrow. His hope is that with the help of the story that he has shared with all of us, positive changes shall come about so that no other parent has to live this nightmare. In the grip of overwhelming grief, the Gonzalez family is trying to hold on to the love that Simon brought into their lives. Though his life was short, his influence has been profound. His spirit, his kindness, and his joy shall be remembered in the hearts of those who loved him – and in the hope that the loss of his life somehow results in better care for children everywhere.
