Family and Friends Join Together to Help Parents Who Lost 9-Month-Old Son

SAN ANGELO, TX - Today, the family and friends of Rosendo Anthony Zapata III and Gabriella DeLaCerda are asking for help. Rosendo, known as Anthony, and Gabriella, known as Gabi, lost their 9-month old son this week, and they need help laying Baby Anthony to rest.

Rosendo Anthony Zapata IV, or Baby Anthony, was with his paternal grandmother Saturday when the parents’ worst nightmare occurred. Grandma put Baby Anthony down for a nap, and when she came back to check on him, the baby wasn’t breathing.

Danielle Escobedo, Gabi’s best friend since 7^th grade, said it’s unknown how Baby Anthony died. She described him as the “perfect” baby. The family has yet to receive autopsy results, but family and friends suspect he may have died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Baby Anthony was the couple’s only child.

Naturally, the parents and family are devastated as to be expected, and the paternal grandmother is taking the death very hard.

Since Baby Anthony’s death, however, family and friends have rallied together to help the young couple raise funds for the funeral. Yesterday, they held a car wash, and today, they are selling brisket taco plates for $6. Donation cans have also been set up at various businesses, and Danielle and her boyfriend Victor started a GoFundMe page (click here to help).

The goal is to raise $6,000, but thus far, family and friends have raised a little over $2,000.

“The GoFundMe we started for the funeral,” said Danielle, but the funds will also help Anthony and Gabi with the added expenses of being out of work during this time.

Not to mention, “They haven’t even gotten to the headstone, so this would help,” said Danielle.

Adriana Pomar, another close friend of Gabi’s and Baby Anthony’s Godmother, said Gabi and Anthony are like family.

“We don’t want them to have a bigger burden than they already have,” said Adriana.

Adriana said to help, people can find donation cans at La Chilanga, Henry’s Diner, City Lumber and Mendez Café. People can also buy brisket taco plates with rice and beans for $6. They can opt for delivery for an added $2; however, if people order four or more plates, family and friends will deliver for free. All proceeds go to the funeral costs for Baby Anthony.

“Anything helps,” said Adriana. “We want to thank everyone who have already donated. We greatly appreciate everyone [for] keeping Gabby and Anthony in their prayers.”

Oscar, Anthony’s best friend and Baby Anthony’s Godfather, said the family will need 80 percent of the funds by tomorrow at 4 p.m.

He is currently helping deliver plates to help meet that goal.

“We’re trying our best to get as much as we can,” said Oscar.

Oscar added, “Mom and dad are holding up with the support of friends and family. They’re wanting to participate in the events we have going on.”

Baby Anthony’s mother, Gabi, said this is the worst thing that could happen. It’s hell; however, the support she and Anthony has received allows them to grieve.

“With everything everyone has done, and how everyone has gotten together for my son, even people we don’t know, it means so much to me and my boyfriend. We wouldn’t have been able to go through this,” Gabi said.

She added that the support has been “heavenly.”

“The support is heavenly,” Gabi said. “God’s touched everyone’s heart to come to us. We see random people we don’t even know who [has shared] stuff. That makes us go through it. We’re able to stand it.”

Gabi said she welcomes all the support, and anyone who wants to attend Baby Anthony’s funeral services is welcome. The parents request everyone to wear white to the Viewing and Rosary and the funeral.

The Viewing and Rosary will begin tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Johnson’s Funeral Home, 435 W. Beauregard, and the mass will begin at 10 a.m. Friday morning at St. Mary’s Church, 9 W. Avenue N, followed with the burial at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens, 4989 FM Highway 1223.

Note: Stephanie Lindgren contributed to this story.