LOS ANGELES — Book reports are harder to write these days for 12-year-old Ryan Gomez. He’s used to having his mother around to help.
“My mom was really good at writing,” Ryan said. “I consider her a writing god. Or goddess.”
Now his goddess is his angel. His mother, Ashley Gornick-Gomez, who was a nurse, died January 2021 from COVID-19.
He tries his best on his homework, which can sometimes be hard.
“It is a lot emotionally, but I’m trying not to make it a big deal at school, because I don’t want to draw too much attention. I just want to live an average life,” he said.
Ryan is the oldest of six boys. His little brother, Zachary, said they all miss their mother.
“When I’m about to go to sleep, I always think about my mom,” Zachary said.
The baby of the bunch, Cory was born just weeks before she died.
They’re among the estimated over 20,000 kids in California who’ve lost a parent to COVID-19. They’re now not only grieving, but living in a household with one less income.
Youth are reporting feeling the weight of pandemic pressures. A survey of over 600 South LA youth found over 50% report being stressed since March 2020. A majority said their families had constant issues buying groceries and paying bills. Over 70% said they had trouble paying for funeral expenses.
UCLA professor of education, Dr. Tyrone Howard, who created the survey, said the stresses are affecting them in the classroom.
“Until you take care of those basic needs, food safety, shelter, love, caring and belongingness, you’re not going to get to the academic demands that schools often times expect,” Howard said. “We cannot ask children to check their issues or problems at the door.”
A proposed state bill aims to help kids’ financial future.
Senate Bill 854 would create a savings account for kids who’ve lost a parent or permanent caregiver to COVID-19. Youth in long-term foster care also would be eligible.
Kids under 9 would receive $4,000 in an account. Kids 10 to 17 years old would receive $8,000 that they could access when they turn 18.
State Sen. Nancy Skinner, who introduced the bill, said 67% of kids who’ve lost a parent or primary caregiver to COVID were kids of color and kids of low-wage workers.
“A child is dependent on their family, and so if they have lost their family, who do they turn to?” Skinner said. “If we have the ability to offer some children some hope for the future, then I think it is time that we do it.”
Ryan and his brothers receive survivor benefits, which helps their father out each month. He thinks a savings account could help him in the future, but thinks his brothers need it even more.
“It hurts me every day to think about how they are going through this… and how they are going to have to grow up without their mom,” Ryan said. “Every day I’m going to strive to carry on the memory.”
Gomez’ extended family set up a GoFundMe account for him and his brothers.
Senate Bill 854 is being passed around committees. It’s been assigned first to the Senate Human Services Committee. The first hearing is expected to take place in March. After Human Services, it will go to the Senate Governance and Finance Committee for a hearing likely in April.