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Maria Castro, center, has been caring for her
grandchildren ... from left, Kristine, 13; Noah, 2; Berenice, 8;
and Karla Jessica, 15 ... at her house in San Jose since the death
of their mother in a car accident earlier this year.
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Published Sunday, November 23,
2003, in the San Jose Mercury News
Bouncing
back from tragedy
S.J.
FAMILY STRUGGLES AFTER WRECK KILLS MOTHER
selene
Rangel and her children were moving in hopes of finding a
better life. The single mother of four and a friend were driving
from San Jose to Louisiana, where Selene planned to work to buy
a house for her struggling family.
But as Selene, 34, and her children slept, their little dog spilled
some food on the back seat and the friend lost control of the car
when he reached back to clean up. Selene was thrown from the vehicle
and died at the scene. Noah, 2; Berenice, 8; Kristine, 13; and Karla
Jessica, 15, suffered serious injuries, from severe bruises to deep
gashes. The children were hospitalized in Arizona, where their grandmother
Maria Castro joined them.
Since that horrendous day in July, Maria has gained temporary custody
of the children and brought them to live with her in San Jose. The
54-year-old grandmother works from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every day,
then rushes to pick up her grandchildren from school, do the laundry,
go to medical and therapy appointments, and, finally, cook dinner.
It is a life she never imagined, but she is glad to be able to do
it, she says in her native Spanish.
``Sometimes the children get sad,'' says Maria, fighting back tears
of her own. ``But life goes on, and one has to try to overcome.''
The Grandparent Caregiver Resource Center, a program of Catholic
Charities, is helping Maria file for permanent custody of her grandchildren,
but the expenses can be overwhelming.
Maria would like to get some toy action figures ($9
each) (18A) for Noah. Berenice, who says she dreams of
becoming a dentist and loves football, hopes for a personal CD player
($29)
(18B). Kristine enjoys sports and going to the mall.
She would love a small stereo for her room ($79)
(18C). Karla Jessica is a strong student who hopes to
become a lawyer, but it's hard to keep up without a computer ($700)
(18D) and printer ($50)
(18E). And department-store gift certificates ($25
each) (18F) would get them all into some new clothes,
shoes and warm jackets.
``It's all been so recent, but little by little, we get used to
the idea that she's no longer with us,'' says Maria of her eldest
daughter.
For
more information on Catholic
Charities Grandparent Caregiver Resource Center, go to
www.ccsj.org/users/gcrc/.
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