Tributes

Simon Galindo III, born April 11, 1986, joined his Father in Heaven on November 2, 2008. Simon is the beloved son of Simon and Deborah Galindo and the nephew of his devoted and cherished aunt, Mary Gonzales. He is survived by his brothers, Hector Hernandez and Richard Rendon Jr. Melissa, sisters Margaret Hernandez, Janis Herrera Gilbert, Tracy Hernandez, and Amber Rose Galindo, grandmother, Josefina M. Gonzales, uncles, Joe Galindo Florinda, Raymond C. Gonzalez, Jr. Carmen Bennett, mother, Sylvia Hernandez Martinez, and his aunts, uncles, and cousins of the Aranda family. Simon graduated from Holmes High School and worked as a data entry clerk at USAA, CareMark, and the Texas Dept. of Transportation. Simon's passion was dancing and traveling with the Scikotics Car Club, whose members will serve as pallbearers. Throughout his courageous battle with leukemia, he was surrounded by the many, many friends and family members whose lives he touched and whom he blessed with his grace, his kindness, and his love of life. To know Simon was to love him. The family extends their deepest gratitude to the entire medical staff on the 6th floor of the University Hospital for their unrelenting efforts and exceptional care throughout his illness. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 5-7 p.m. at Mission Park North, 3401 Cherry Ridge; Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Procession for the funeral will depart from Mission Park North on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 9:30 a.m. Mass will be at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 350 Sutton Drive at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at San Fernando Cemetery III. Signed with Love The father jumps up as soon as he sees the doctor come out of the operating room. He asks the doctor, 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I go and see him? The doctor answers, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.' The father with tears in his eyes turns around and cries out, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you? The doctor asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes before he's transported to the University Hospital. The nurse comes out and takes him to his son's room where the father touches his head and runs his fingers lovingly through his hair. 'Would you like a lock of his hair? The father nods his head to say yes. The nurse cuts a lock of the boy's hair and puts it in a plastic bag and hands it to the father. The father with trembling words manages to say, It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University Hospital for study. He said it might help somebody else'. I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Dad, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his dad.' He went on, My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could. The father walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. He put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside him in the car. The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. He carried Jimmy's belongings and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to his son's room. He started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. He lay down across his bed and hugging his pillow he cried himself to sleep. It was around midnight when he wakes up and lying beside him on the bed was a folded letter and the letter read as follows: Dear Dad, I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You'. I will always love you, dad, even more with each passing day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can even have my room and old stuff to play with. Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly around. And, you know what, Dad? Jesus doesn't even look like any of the pictures I Have seen of Him before. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus Himself took me to see God! And guess what, dad? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what dad? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter and I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. Hey dad, God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions, you asked Him when I died at the hospital. "Where was God when I needed Him? God said He was in the same place with me dad, as when His Son, Jesus died on the Cross. He was right there as He always is with all His children. Oh, by the way, dad, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now, He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Guess what dad, tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore the cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that dad!? Signed with Love from God, Jesus and Me!

Tributes

Simon Galindo III

April 11, 1986 - November 2, 2008