Latest news with #headstone
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Springfield mom launches GoFundMe for daughter's ‘princess' headstone after E. coli death
Months after hugging her sick daughter for the last time, a Springfield mother is now working to give her a headstone worthy of a princess. Angelica Vazquez, 6, died of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli — or more commonly known as E. coli — in November 2024. 'She literally lived like the life of a princess,' her mom, Samantha Ocasio, told MassLive last year. 'But the thing is, she never acted like it. She was very grateful for everything and anything she had.' The GoFundMe, created in January, is aiming to raise $7,000 for the headstone. As of Wednesday morning, it had only raised $70 from two donations. The mom is also accepting donations through Cash App, $SamanthaCopeny and Venmo, @Sammy102323, as GoFundMe takes about a 3% fee from each donation. The 6-year-old is remembered as a happy, bright and beautiful soul. She loved shopping, listening to Taylor Swift, braiding hair, doing nails and learning TikTok dances. And there was a lot of laughter. 'And that's what keeps me going most days, is knowing I was able to give her at least a happy time while she was here,' Ocasio said. What happened Angelica started feeling sick late on Nov. 1. Her mother made sure she was drinking plenty of Gatorade and taking it easy by watching TV. On Nov. 2, she gave her daughter a bubble bath, and they played in the bubbles together. But things rapidly changed. About 45 minutes later, she passed out in her mother's arms. And by the time she got to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Angelica was in cardiac arrest. 'It was fast. It was really, really fast,' Ocasio said. She tried asking the doctors questions about her daughter's condition but said she wasn't getting many answers. 'They just kept telling me, 'She's too sick. She's too sick,'' her mother recalled. Eventually, she was told Angelica could be in the hospital for a few days. So, she asked for family to bring her a packed bag with clothes. 'I thought I was gonna be there three to five days, and my baby was gonna come home with me,' she said. Doctors later told Ocasio that her daughter had brain damage because of a lack of oxygen. About 12 hours after getting to the hospital, her happy, healthy, 6-year-old girl died. Ocasio said the only change in the family's food was eating at a Western Massachusetts McDonald's on Halloween, when her daughter dressed up as Minnie Mouse. 'I was like, we're going to go trick-or-treating. Let's have a fun dinner,' Ocasio said. While her siblings all ate chicken nuggets, Angelica opted for a cheeseburger. A deadly outbreak of E. coli poisoning has been tied to some of McDonald's onions after at least 75 people in 13 states got sick, federal health officials said. The strain of E. coli linked to the onions served at McDonald's is called O157.H7. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention said there have been no reported cases of E. coli tied to the O157.H7 strain and McDonald's outbreak in Massachusetts. McDonald's also confirmed that they reached out to the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health, their own third-party experts and our supply chain team following the report, according to Western Mass News. Plus, the onions linked to the E. coli outbreak, which are used on Quarter Pounders, are different from the onions used on the cheeseburger that Angelica ate. 'What's important to know is that the public health officials have not connected any reports of E. Coli to McDonald's in Massachusetts or the broader northeast region,' the statement read. But that meal, the mother said, was the only difference she can think of. 'My whole concern is 'OK, if it wasn't the McDonald's, what is it?'' Ocasio asked. Raising awareness Her daughter was always looking out for other people. In honor of her, Ocasio is hoping to raise awareness about E. coli. 'Because what if the next parent thinks it's a stomach bug? What if the next parent doesn't know the signs or the symptoms?' she said. Anyone can get an E. coli infection, according to the CDC. However, children under the age of 5 years, adults over the age of 65 and people who have a weakened immune system are at a greater risk. The CDC suggests seeing a doctor if diarrhea or vomiting lasts more than two days, if there's blood in excretions, a fever of more than 102 degrees, dehydration or signs of hemolytic uremic syndrome, which include feeling tired. Stomach cramps and diarrhea with mucus are also common symptoms. Parents also should watch out for swelling in the hands and feet of children, decreased urination and crying. But it isn't always easy to spot. Ocasio asked her daughter if she thought the stomach pains were bad and if they needed to see a doctor. Her daughter said, 'No, my belly just hurts.' 'Kids get stomach bugs. It presented itself as a stomach bug,' she said. 'She was normal up until that moment where she passed out.' Ocasio said she didn't know her daughter died of E. coli, because nobody at the hospital explained it to her, she said. She later discovered the information from the funeral home. Her daughter's death certificate states she died of cardiac arrest, acute gastrointestinal bleeding and was positive for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Each year, about 48 million people get sick because of E. coli in the U.S., 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die, according to the FDA. Now, Ocasio fears she will be unable to keep her other six children, all under the age of 10, safe. 'I Google things all night. I'm up. I don't sleep. I'm not functioning,' she previously told MassLive. 'I'm functioning what I can for my children. But as far as nighttime, I'm Googling stuff. I'm reading about stuff.' Other recent E. coli outbreaks have been linked to ground beef and carrots. 'The best ways to prevent infection are by keeping your hands clean, preparing food safely, and drinking safe water,' the CDC recommends. Ocasio's family likes to spend time remembering Angelica. 'We talk about her all the time,' she said. The family also has done a balloon release for their little girl and made necklaces for each of their children. 'They get to wear those everywhere. We talk about her. They know they're more than welcome to talk about her,' she said. 'And I check their mental health every morning and before bed. And in between, we just do a lot of talking and a lot of crying together.' And she hopes the headstone can help further honor her memory. Talking about her daughter's story has not been easy, especially as posts on social media questioned the truth behind why her daughter died. But she said she wants to tell her daughter's story in hopes of saving another child. 'I feel like my job now is to spread awareness,' she said. More News How Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren agreed on a sweeping housing package Judge allows prosecutors to call out-of-state witnesses in Brian Walshe case Funeral to be held for man who ran for Worcester mayor and lost 13 times Boston Mayor Wu says National Guard not needed at Mass and Cass Amelia league's goal: Let children 'enjoy the awesome game of hockey' Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Man Sues L.A. Cemetery for Placing Mother's Headstone Over the Wrong Grave — for More Than 3 Years: 'How Could This Happen?'
A man is suing the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles because he claims a headstone for his late mother had been placed over the wrong grave for multiple years The family only learned of the alleged mix-up when they buried their father earlier this year, a lawsuit states "We were just talking to an empty spot," the man's sister saidA man is suing a cemetery in Los Angeles because he claims a headstone for his late mother had been placed over the wrong grave — for more than three years. Chris Demirchyan has sued Forest Lawn Mortuary and the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Association for fraud, breach of contract, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress and is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, according to a lawsuit obtained by PEOPLE. Back in 2008, Chris' parents purchased two burial plots at the cemetery. In 2012, he allegedly requested they "release their two plots to allow for the family to have a total of six burial plots in the same area," and he went on to secure "four additional burial plots," the legal document claims. When Chris' mother died in July 2021, she was buried in one of the purchased plots a month later. Then, in September, the complaint claims Chris "entered into a contract" to get a headstone, but the legal document alleges that one "bearing [his] mother's name was ultimately placed on the wrong burial site." Per the lawsuit, Chris and his family "were unaware of this misplacement and continued visiting the incorrect site." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. When Chris' dad died earlier this year in April, the complaint claims the man and his family made arrangements for their late father to be buried in the adjacent plot next to where they believed their mother to be. However, during the service for his father, the legal document claims that Chris was informed "that while [his] mother was correctly buried in her designated plot, the headstone bearing her name had been placed on a different gravesite." Chris, the complaint claims, "was shocked, devastated and overwhelmed upon learning that the family had been grieving and visiting the wrong site for [his] mother for approximately 4 years." Per the legal document, Forest Lawn Memorial Park "promised that the issue would be corrected," and the cemetery subsequently "removed the incorrectly placed headstone and placed it on the correct site." The ordeal caused Chris "significant emotional distress, including shock, grief and ongoing mental anguish from having grieved and visited the wrong site for [his] mother," according to the complaint. It added that he also "suffered economic losses, emotional distress and other damages as a direct result" of the alleged mix-up. The legal document further accuses the Forest Lawn Memorial Park of being "reckless, negligent and in breach of its contractual obligations to [Chris], including its duty to properly place and maintain the headstone." Speaking with NBC Los Angeles, Chris' sister, Marine Demirchyan, said the ordeal has left her deeply upset. 'When she passed, I thought, 'At least, we have given her a peaceful, respectful place to rest.' But seeing her memorial tablet placed on the wrong grave, it felt like losing her all over again,' she told the outlet. "We were just talking to an empty spot.' 'She was caring. She was loving," Chris added of his mother, also asking NBC Los Angeles: "How could this happen?" In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Chris' attorney, Rosie Zilifyan, said: "Forest Lawn's failure to fulfill its most basic responsibilities—ensuring that a loved one's grave is properly marked — was not just negligent; it was callous. Our lawsuit seeks to hold Forest Lawn fully accountable for its reckless mishandling and to ensure no other family is forced to endure a similar ordeal." The Forest Lawn Memorial Park Association did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Read the original article on People
ABC News
21-05-2025
- ABC News
Repairs begin for headstones vandalised in Toowoomba Cemetery
Repairs have begun on nearly 150 headstones that were vandalised in Toowoomba nine months ago. Heavy stone monuments have been craned out in pieces from the Toowoomba Cemetery, while smashed marble plaques have been delicately plucked up and stored in boxes ready for repair. They are the first steps in a long recovery process involving tradespeople in Toowoomba and Brisbane, which could cost families about $300,000. Two boys have been dealt with under the Youth Justice Act over the matter from August last year. Community group Headstone Healing Project has been driving the collaborative restoration process. "When something like this comes along, you realise that all of the less-than-wonderful things that happen in the community can be quickly overcome by an act of kindness," spokesperson Greg Johnson said. "This issue belongs to all Toowoomba people and it's our responsibility to make sure this cemetery is back to where it was." In a cost of living crisis, the group had helped to offset the costs for people who could not afford to repair their loved one's memorials. Mr Johnson said about $12,000 had been raised so far. Stonemason Michael Wagner was one of the first people to discover the damaged graves when he came to visit his father's memorial. Operating a business across the road from the cemetery, he offered to volunteer his time to remove many of the damaged headstones. "We like everybody else have relatives and friends in the cemetery that we don't expect to be vandalised," he said. "For days after we had calls from clients trying to find out whether there was any damage to their memorials. Mr Wagner said there was no rhyme or reason for the vandalism. "It was just a few young people … they made some senseless mistakes," he said. "For people who are thinking about doing something silly, don't do it in a cemetery." The damaged memorials will be sent to TAFE Queensland's stonemason students for repair. TAFE Queensland's Stephen Gates said the college was honoured to be involved in the project. "Any chance we get to combine hands-on training with helping Queensland communities is one we will gladly take," Mr Gates said. He said it would give the apprentice stonemasons valuable experience and restore "the dignity of the owners of these tombstones". Mr Wagner hoped many of the original stone structures could be repaired and preserved. "In some cases, if inscription tablets or headstones are beyond repair, we'll look at replacing the tablet or doing a marker stone," he said. Many of the sites will also be reinforced to make sure they are more resistant to damage. "Back in the 1800s, in an area like Toowoomba, there wasn't the belief that people would knock over headstones," he said. "Now we have Australian standards set up for the upkeep, installation, and the construction of monuments. "It's never going to prevent [them] being knocked over, but it helps in a safety situation."
