USA First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff

Dear First Partner Siebel Newsom,
My son, Bobby Gonzaba, grew up in a wonderful home and was loved beyond
words. He had a mom, a dad, siblings, and grandparents who loved him. He did
well in school, had lots of friends who played sports and excelled at them. In high
school he was a popular kid and even the teachers liked him. He had friends, and
plenty of girlfriends, who went to his high school proms with him, and he did what
you would hope a well-adjusted guy would do! He loved life, loved laughing, and
was a really funny guy to be around. After he graduated from high school, he joined
the painter's union, like his dad, and after five years of going to painters’ school he
became a journeyman painter and was doing well both financially and personally. In
2013, he was introduced to a doctor who prescribed him a huge amount of opiates
and fentanyl for a back injury he suffered in high school football.
On March 18, 2017, his girlfriend screamed and ran into my bedroom saying,
"Bobby's not breathing" I jumped up and ran into his room where I saw him at the
window trying to get air, he turned, looked at me, reached out his hands, dropped. I
instantly started CPR, and the paramedics were there in 4 minutes, but we couldn't
save him, my knees buckled, as a I screamed out.
That night lives in my head, and unfortunately, I see it often! The medical examiner
told me “Your son's brain forgot to breathe." It was an acute fentanyl overdose. The
Federal DEA indicted his doctor, who was indicted was facing 30 years in federal
prison for over prescribing and insurance fraud. Unfortunately, he died awaiting trial,
which had to be postponed because of Covid. The drug epidemic is far worse than
the Covid pandemic. We are watching hundreds of thousands of young adults
dropping like flies right here on the streets of America. It is like they are wiping out a
whole generation of young American adults and no one is being held accountable!!
We feel so helpless, what can we do?! I'm involved in several different types of
awareness programs and doing the best that I can, but we need MORE, so much
MORE. Please HELP US! Families are being destroyed; communities are being torn
apart. Help us help this country please!
My son’s story is by far not the only young person’s story who has fallen victim to
this drug. There are numerous stories like his. Parents all over the world have come
together. We have created two memorial walls: one with photos, and with names, to
honor those who have lost their lives due to this drug. I am including Bobby’s frame
in this letter, along
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