BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Instead of cake and candles, a Bakersfield mother is honoring the birthday of her son — who died in a horrific accident several years ago — by giving back to the community.
Turning pain into passion may be a cliche for some, but it’s very real for Josie Rosel, who helps people in need as a way to remember her 13-year-old son, Alejandro Vargas Jr., who was tragically killed in 2019.
“His best friend calls me, and tells me that they were crossing the street and Alejandro got hit by a pickup truck,” Rosel said. “I told him, stop lying. That is not a joke. Don’t play like that with me and he goes mom, ‘it’s not a joke. It’s not a joke, it’s not a joke.'”
Rosel said once she got to the scene, she saw her son laying face up on the ground fighting for his life.
“He was looking straight up at the sky and I knew it. That moment when I saw him, I knew he was going to be gone,” she said. “That he wasn’t coming back from it.”
Alejandro would have been 21 years old this September.
Rosel describes him as the most loving kid who liked to play sports, do good and be a light in his family.
For birthdays, they would have traditional celebrations, but now Rosel is partnering with Cali Familia and the Open Door Network for a day of love, kindness and helping people in need.
She says Alejandro was passionate about giving to others.
“We were heading to Walmart [and] there was a gentleman with a sign asking for money for food. And Alejandro was like ‘Mom, do you have $2?” Rosel said. “I’m like ‘yeah, I do, why kid?’ He’s like, ‘Can you give it to that guy?’ I said no. You know, ‘I can’t right now, son.'”
Rosel said Alejandro kept asking her.
“He’s like, ‘C’mon, Mom, please.’ And I’m like, ‘Okay.’ So I gave Alejandro the $2. He rolled his windows down with a huge smile and gave the $2 to the gentleman there,” she said. “That was just amazing to see that he always had that kind, caring heart to always want to help somebody else.”
Rosel is hosting the give-back event at the homeless Shelter on East Truxtun — something she says Alejandro would have loved.
“I know he would be so happy because that’s something he always said he wanted to do,” Rosel said. “He always told me, ‘Mom, I’ll be the next big thing.’ And even though he’s not here alive, he’s here spiritually, and he became the next big thing.”
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