Fundraiser Benefits Local Family Struggling After Father's Death

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Dairon Molina didn’t feel quite right the morning of Feb. 2, but he and his wife didn’t think increased aches and pains were cause for panic.

After all, Molina suffered from a host of back problems and thought, perhaps, the pains he was experiencing were related.

That’s why Molina decided to drive himself to the hospital that morning, leaving his wife, Christina, to care for their 1-year-old daughter, Mia.

Dairon Molina, however, would never return to the family’s Land O’ Lakes home.

As he was heading south on U.S. 41, his Nissan Maxima traveled off the roadway just south of Sundance Lake Drive, striking a tree.

Molina suffered injuries from the crash, but his wife says he also had a heart attack behind the wheel and died several days later on Feb. 6.

“There was no reason for me to think he wasn’t going to make it to the hospital,” Christina said.

Now, Christina is trying to pick up the pieces for herself, Mia, and the couple’s other two children, Lilly, 14, and Dairon, 13.

Christina explained that she and Dairon were childhood sweethearts. “I’ve known that man since I was 10 years old. We grew up together.”

The couple married in 2000 and would have celebrated their 15th anniversary this August.

Dairon was out of work at the time of his death and was driving the family’s only car. As a truck driver, Dairon suffered from “a lot of back problems,” Christina explained. He had to quit his career. “He just couldn’t do it anymore.”

With three children and four dogs to care for, Christina had a full-time job at home.

“Without my husband, I am lost,” Christina said.

Even so, she’s trying to keep going for her children, but money is tight. The family needs a new car, has funeral expenses to contend with and has to move in the coming weeks.

Friends and family have stepped forward to help. A fundraiser for the family has been established on GoFundMe.com. The goal is to raise $500,000.

Christina said she’s grateful for the help and is also thankful for those who stopped to help her husband the morning of the crash.

“I would love to meet those people,” she said.

The couple celebrated Mia’s first birthday on Dec. 31 and turned the bash into a celebration of all three of their children. Their last family photograph was taken during those festivities.

It’s those memories, Christina said that will keep her going.

“I’d give anything to have that man here right now,” she said.

For more information on the fundraiser, visit GoFundMe.com.

Photos courtesy of the Molina family

See Also:

Man Dies After Land O’ Lakes Crash