When was the last time you saw a GoFundMe on social media?

It’s probably more often than you realize.

Every 8 seconds, a new campaign begins on Go Fund Me for all sorts of needs, such as medical, rent, or even generalized support.

Around 140 million dollars are raised every month through the platform

That’s almost 40 dollars per second.

However, for us, there’s a real danger of over-saturation

So many stories, all of them valid, many heartbreaking, with real financial burden.

It can overwhelm anyone

How can we help all of these people who need it?

How do we choose who gets money, a message, or simply, a quick prayer and a scroll down to the next post on Facebook or Instagram?

This is a real struggle I deal with, and I have not really learned a great method to process it if I’m honest.

However there are a few stories which have remained with me over the years.

This episodes guest is from one of these stories.

Eric Trinidad is a man who I worked with for a few years at a previous company. He was a few levels above me, knew a lot more than me, and always struck me as a patient and caring person. I’d love it when he answered the phone when I needed to escalate a call, because I knew not only was I going to receive quick help, he was also going to be patient and willing to teach me what I didn’t know after the call.

After I left that company I lost touch with him, but then I saw this on Facebook about a year later, shared by his wife.

“4th of July we were in the hospital getting ready for Lily’s little sister to arrive. Viviana Eleanor Trinidad was born on July 5th at 6lbs 11oz. There were some complications when she was born and a week later we find ourselves in Houston working on a plan with some of the best doctors to get her healthy and home as soon as possible. We were hesitant to post but we have a difficult road ahead of us and we need prayers from our family and friends.”

The next post, this time by Eric’s sister:

“On July 4th, my beautiful niece Viviana was born Unfortunately, Vivi was born with a tumor at the roof of her mouth going up to her brain. She was flown from San Antonio to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. My sister-in-law Gaby and brother Eric are still working through being away from home during this time, as there is such a long road ahead of Viviana. Gaby’s sister Alicia and I have set up a GoFundMe for Vivy if y’all could please share and keep my family and Vivy in your prayers Thank you so much to everyone that has sent such amazing vibes and thoughts our way”

I do not want to make this about me, but something in these two post moved me. I read every update after, prayed for them, and genuinely wanted to see their little daughter make it through. Maybe it was because Winter was only about 1 year old at this time, maybe it was just God’s timing, I do not know.

Time passed, there were updates but they became less and less as Viviana grew and grew into a wonderful little girl, and admittedly both time and algorithms separated them from my thoughts.

That was until I recently met up with Eric again at a birthday party for one of our mutual friends. I asked him about his story, and was blown away at his journey. It was right as I was preparing for season 2, and I am thankful he was all in on recording it with me.

I do not do this to benefit from his pain. His struggle isn’t my gain, and this isn’t something I’m trying to use to build up this podcast. My goal here is to share a man’s story, and his real walk through something heartbreaking, for us all to see that if we hold on, and celebrate the little things, there is a way through, no matter what happens.

With that said, I am honored to present to you, my conversation, with Eric Trinidad.

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