"My husband does come back and forth when he can. It is hard due to the gas prices," she said, adding a round trip is now costing the family more than $300.
In just the past few weeks, the price of gas in California has gone up drastically. It's taking a toll, especially on families with critically sick children.
Tinisha Dominguez, of Tulare, California, is one parent affected by the rising gas prices. She recently spoke out about how the increase has created a hardship for her family. "It's really hard, but I've got to be strong for all of us," she told ABC 7.
Dominguez, a mom of four, shared that her youngest son was diagnosed with a condition that required life-saving surgery to help him breathe. "They cut the jaw and put metal plates and rods and then after the surgery, they would distract it for twelve days to bring his jaw forward," said Dominguez.
The mom said her son’s surgery at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital was a success, but it will still take time for him to recover. She's been staying with him at the hospital, which is in San Francisco.
This is absolutely heartbreaking. Families in California need relief from crippling gas prices NOW.https://t.co/Ru3QFTlzVf
— Jessica Millan Patterson (@millanpatterson) March 20, 2022
Now, here's where the problem is. Dominguez is hundreds of miles away from her family, and her husband can only make the three-and-a-half-hour drive from Tulare when he can afford it since money is tight.
"My husband does come back and forth when he can. It is hard due to the gas prices," she said, adding a round trip is now costing the family more than $300.
The desperate family has now turned to a local nonprofit organization to help them as prices continue to soar. However, Sara Alexander, executive director of Bay Area There with Care, doesn’t know how long this can continue. She said the organization usually provides assistance to families via care packages or gas cards, but if prices continue to get any higher, it’s going to get really difficult.
"We are nowhere near being able to meet the demand for gas at the moment," Alexander shared. “Knowing that they're having to choose between paying rent, getting food on their table, or filling their gas tanks I mean that's a tremendous amount of stress on families with a sick child,” she added.
Instead of complaining all the time, why don’t you come up with a solution. Here is an explanation as to why gas prices have gone up⬇️ pic.twitter.com/bgYWr8NiMV
— TTT (@THSResister) March 20, 2022
“Previously, we were helping families with $25 to $50 worth of gas and now knowing that a tank of gas can cost more than $100 we recognize there's so much more we can do," Alexander said. She also mentioned that the organization is accepting donations to help cover the costs for families struggling to fill the gas tank.
However, this experience has served as an eye-opener for Tinisha Dominguez. "Whatever they can give in any amount or whatever it is really it does make it a difference," said Dominguez, who plans to eventually give back to other families struggling with sick children.
"Once we're home and settled, my greatest hope is to give back," she said. "To give back to everyone who's given to us." In the meantime, she's waiting anxiously to take her son back home. "I'm just waiting for the day for us all to be together again."
References:
https://abc7news.com/california-gas-prices-bay-area-tulare-family-newborn-son/11657214/
Cover Image Source: YouTube | ABC7 News Bay Area
