Roberto Tobias’ father, Roberto Sr, died after contracting COVID-19 while helping an elderly neighbor with the virus.
His mother Loida died after working as a nurse and tending to her ill husband.
The 17-year old Roberto admits losing both parents have left him numb, but he’s already looking to his future. He dreams of going to college and eventually medical school.
He launched a GoFundMe page asking for help to get him through college. He’s already raised more than $70,000.
“My realization of my dreams came from inspiration from my parents, learning my true passions, and the discovery of what I wanted to pursue in my life,” he wrote. “When I enter college, I want to study premed and go on to medical school to pursue a career as a neurosurgeon. However, with the passing of my parents, the security of my future is unclear because I don’t have a source of income to help fund my education. Hopefully, with this fundraiser, I’ll be able to help fund my first year of college while I work towards funding my own career. Any amount would definitely be appreciated and I genuinely thank you for reading this.”
Roberto has fond memories of both parents.
“She was such a small woman, but she managed to accomplish so many trials and so many feats,” he said to NY1.
About his father he said “I think he has a lot of the same traits as my mom and I’m assuming that’s sort of why they worked together so well. He was so compassionate, so hard working. He was such a resilient person.”
Both have given him inspiration to move on with life with the help of his aunt who he says will be handling any funds he raises.
“I want to live up to what they established,” he said. “I really admired what they persevered through to give their kids a foundation,” he told the NY Post.
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