Weeks after a 5-year-old Venezuelan boy fell ill at a Pilsen migrant center and died, an online fundraiser is seeking to aid his family in finding a stable living environment.
The GoFundMe campaign organized on behalf of the parents of Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero — who was pronounced dead last month following a “medical emergency” at a shelter located at 2241 S. Halsted St. — has raised more than $6,000 out of its $25,000 goal as of Thursday afternoon.
“Jean Carlos survived the treacherous journey from South America to Chicago only to lose his life days later in a place that was supposed to provide him with safety,” the fundraiser organizers wrote in their post. “We are heart broken by the loss of Jean Carlos and the family’s shattered hope of a better future.”
According to the fundraiser, the boy’s parents and 2-year-old brother are experiencing homelessness and money raised through GoFundMe would go toward providing them with “at least a year of stable housing.”
“Your donations will also cover essential living costs, such as utilities (gas, electric, internet, phones), groceries, and asylum/immigration filing fees,” organizers wrote. “This support will create a space for them to mourn, honor the memory of sweet Jean Carlos, and begin the process of healing in a safe and secure environment while attempting to move forward without their beloved son.”
A migrant shelter located at 2241 S. Halsted Street. (WTTW News)
Martinez Rivero and his family arrived in Chicago on Nov. 30 and were placed in the shelter that same day, according to city officials.
The family left the shelter for part of the morning and early afternoon on Dec. 17, returning at just after 2:30 p.m., but just 13 minutes later, shelter staff witnessed a “medical emergency” and immediately called 911.
Staff began administering first aid to Martinez Rivero, including chest compressions, officials said, until Chicago firefighters and paramedics arrived and took the boy to Comer Children’s Hospital. He was later pronounced dead.
The Halsted shelter has faced complaints of unsafe conditions for those living there, and others there had also become ill.
A cause of death has not yet been determined, but city officials last month said Martinez Rivero did not appear to have suffered from an infectious disease and there was no evidence of an outbreak at the shelter.
