A Mundelein firefighter-paramedic received the call that “every first responder dreads” when his mother was found unresponsive in his childhood home and died days later in the hospital.
The Yard Foundation said the tones dropped for a call that “changed everything” for Mundelein Fire Department Firefighter-Paramedic Angel Gonzaga on Christmas Eve on December 24.
The call was one that “every first responder dreads” as Gonzaga received word that his mother was unresponsive in his childhood home.
Gonzaga’s own brothers from the fire department responded to the home in the 900 block of Highland Road in Mundelein.
The man’s mother, Silvia Gonzaga, 67, of Mundelein, was found unresponsive by her spouse, the Lake County Coroner’s Office said.
Paramedics rushed her to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where she was admitted to the intensive care unit.
Doctors discovered Silvia Gonzaga had suffered a catastrophic hemorrhagic stroke.
The Yard Foundation said the damage was too severe despite the best efforts of the medical team and the prayers from the family.
Angel Gonzaga and his family were having to make the agonizing decision to remove her from life support on Christmas Day, the charity organization said.
“In the span of 24 hours, the Gonzaga family went from holiday preparations to mourning a profound loss. With this sudden tragedy comes the unexpected and overwhelming burden of medical bills and funeral expenses,” The Yard Foundation said.
Silvia Gonzaga was ultimately taken off life support on December 28, the coroner’s office said.
An obituary for the woman described her as a “beloved” wife, mother, sister and grandmother who leaves behind her husband, two sons, two grandchildren and multiple siblings.
A funeral service was held at Kristan Funeral Home in Mundelein on Friday.
A fundraiser has been started for the Gonzaga family to help them focus on grieving and honoring Silvia Gonzaga’s memory.
“Angel dedicates his life to helping others on their worst days. Now, he is living through his own. It is our turn to cover the watch,” the Yard Foundation said.
Angel Gonzaga has worked for the Mundelein Fire Department since 2021 after he retired from the Illinois National Guard. He achieved the rank of sergeant during his six years of service and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2019 and 2020.
“Please help us lift the financial weight off the Gonzaga family so they can focus on grieving and honoring his mother’s memory. Every donation helps offset the costs of the funeral and medical expenses incurred during this sudden crisis,” the charity organization added.
The fundraiser has collected over $7,600 with a $33,000 goal as of Monday.