Helping Brothers Prepare for Future After Tragic Past

I wanted to tell you a story about young Juan Reyes of Placentia that was filled with hope, love, neighbor for neighbor, brother for brother.

I wanted a column that would make you feel good about living here, where we help each other and care when someone needs it most.

But don’t get so caught up in that message, I was cautioned, that you lose sight of what’s going on in Juan Reyes’ life. Tough and determined as he wants us to know he is, Juan Reyes is carrying on while suffering great grief.

Maybe you saw the story three weeks back: Micaela Reyes, 51, was killed while riding in a car whose driver apparently hit the accelerator instead of the brakes. The driver was a friend going to church with Reyes and her 10-year-old son, Elfego, who has Down syndrome.

Elfego, now at UCI Medical Center in Orange, remains unconscious since the accident. He lost his left arm and part of his colon. But the prognosis for his survival is considered good. And Juan, his brother, is now his legal guardian.

Juan is 18, a high school senior. That’s a tender time to have such a role thrust upon you. But it’s one he would not entrust to anyone else. Because Juan Reyes had long promised his mother: If anything ever happened to her, Juan would never ever allow his brother to be sent to an institution.

Juan has repeated that vow to the hospital staff.

So it’s Juan Reyes who stands in line at Social Security and Medi-Cal offices and deals with the doctors and nurses. He juggles all his new responsibilities while arranging transportation (he has no car) to be by his brother’s side daily.

The boys were raised without their father. Micaela Reyes had played the role of both parents. Her life, I’m told, revolved around her sons.

“You have to understand,” said Jacquelyn Adams, a UCI social worker, “that those three were everything to each other.”

Adams has been seeing Juan Reyes several times each week to help him understand what his options are in housing, education and employment, as well as to let him know what kind of support network is available to him.

But it’s Adams who suggests we keep in mind that this is a young man hit hard by his losses. His new responsibilities, she said, won’t be that easy. Though he lives with an aunt now, Adams said, Juan’s long-term goal is a place of his own so he can raise his brother.

Juan Reyes’ burden is at least eased, however, by those who have come forward to help. It’s been pretty remarkable.

Several employers have offered jobs. And donations continue to pour in to help the two brothers. UCI itself has raised close to $14,000 from nurses, staff members and The Associates, its philanthropic support group. Several thousand more has been raised through a fund set up at Juan Reyes’ school, El Camino Real Continuation High School in Placentia.

“We had one check for $500, several for $100,” Assistant Principal Bob Bradshaw said. “But most has come from students and staff and neighbors in small amounts.”

Bradshaw said the school is keeping track of all contributors, to thank them later. (You can donate to the fund at the school, 1351 E. Orangethorpe Ave., 92870.)

Other contributions have come from surprising places. For example:

Cathy Vaughn of Orange was shocked to discover two contributors in her own house--her boys Robby, 8, and Kyle, 6. She explained, “They had been saving their change in this huge Sparkletts bottle for a trip to Disneyland. But they asked if they could give the money to the Reyes boy instead.”

Vaughn said she could hardly believe it. “I’ve got two typical Orange County boysbratty, selfish. But this story really did touch them. They didn’t want to donate the money to the school fund. They wanted to take it to the hospital themselves.”

So that’s what they did. That’s $141 in water bottle change. Two brothers helping two brothers, without their parents’ urging.

Kiki Ruiz of Seal Beach is a story in herself. She’s 10 years old, the same age as Elfego. She also suffers from Down syndrome.

Kiki not long ago made a commercial for Disneyland. She gets residuals in the mail regularly, ranging from $50 to $300, and each time donates 10% to a charity. That’s the influence of her mother, Kim Ruiz. We have to teach our children to do the right thing, she said.

But with her latest check, Kiki had her own suggestion: She wanted it all to go to Elfego Reyes.

“She also wants to read stories to the Reyes boy whenever he’s able to see her,” Karen Ruiz said.

So that support network for the Reyes boys is there in abundance. And it’s worth sharing in a column. But Ruiz mentioned something else we shouldn’t forget: Her daughter was concerned not just with these boys’ futures but with their losses.

Jacquelyn Adams is convinced that Juan Reyes is going to live up to his promise to his mother. Elfego is facing possible long-term care at UCI; but after that, Adams said, there’s a strong chance that the Reyes brothers will make it on their own.

“Juan is not only a very likable young man, he’s a very determined young man too,” she said. “They have a good chance at a reasonable life.”

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Jerry Hicks’ column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Readers may reach Hicks by calling the Times Orange County Edition at (714) 966-7823 or by fax to (714) 966-7711, or e-mail to jerry.hicks@latimes.com