isabella

Seven-year old B and his six-year old brother F were likeable but at times fairly clingy.  They and their three younger siblings lived in a small rundown camper in a humble trailer park in an under resourced area of Pomona that some friends of mine and I have been working at – offering a blend of homework help and mentoring  a few days a week.  All of us were very upset a few months ago when their family was evicted worrying about what would become of the children.  The kind hearted property manager shared the children had already been placed in protective custody once because of their young parents’ dysfunctions.  The family moved into a one room residential hotel known for drug use and prostitution across the street from the trailer park which allowed them to still come in the afternoons when we were at the center.

Last week, B and F’s two-year old sister, Isabella died.  The cause of the death is yet to be determined but their mother has been charged and their father subsequently deported.  The LA times described blunt force to the child’s head and the obvious signs of malnourishment as likely causes.  Isabella died in front of all of her siblings who remain in protective custody.  The families in the park said the boys put her to bed and that she died of sadness. 

They hosted a car wash and sold tamales over the weekend to raise money for the funeral and proper burial.  The only picture of the girl was a shot taken from a cell phone by another resident in the park.  We helped that woman print out that picture, adding Isabella’s birth and death dates and a cite from Psalm 23 to be used at the funeral.