Cora holds a soccer trophy here that she received in 2014. Photo from the Team Cora page on Facebook.

By Judy Reed

Cora Gonzales, the 11-year-old daughter of George and Cookie Gonzales, of Oakfield Township, passed away early Wednesday morning, October 25, of injuries she sustained when she was hit by a car earlier this month.

According to the Team Cora facebook page, Cora died at around 1:30 a.m. 

“The gift of a such a beautiful child we never deserved,” wrote Cora’s parents. “God was gracious enough to bless us with Cora over the last 11 years. We will never forget her sparkling personality, love for people, her infectious smile, and her abundance of hugs. We waited for the miracle of healing on this earth, but God had different plans. Thank you all for the loving support and prayers. We will never be able to thank you enough. God bless you all.”

Cora was the 8^th out of 10 children, and a student at Cedar View Elementary. She was hit by a car on Friday, October 6, on 14 Mile Road, between Harvard and Ramsdell, in front of her home. She suffered critical injuries, including damage to her inner brain. The community held a prayer vigil for her last week in Morley Park.

According to Cookie, Cora’s mother, she loved playing soccer with the AYSO United team, running, wrestling, camping, and spending time with her siblings and friends. She also loved participating in church events and loved her Lord, Jesus, with all of her heart. 

If you’d like to help the Gonzales family with expenses, you may visit the Gofundme page at https://www.gofundme.com/love-for-cora.

“Pray for Cora” lit up the night. Community members spelled out “Pray for Cora” with candles during the candlelight prayer vigil at Skinner Field Monday evening. Photo courtesy of Danielle Hardenburg.

Cora Gonzales, a fifth-grade student at Cedar View Elementary, is still in critical condition after being hit by a car earlier this month. Photo courtesy of Danielle Hardenburg.

By Judy Reed

A candlelight vigil held Monday evening at Skinner Field brought out more than 200 people to pray for Cora Gonzales, the 11-year-old Cedar Springs girl hit by a car on 14 Mile Road on October 6. She is still in critical condition.

Cora’s parents, George and Cookie Gonzales, have asked everyone to pray for a miracle. And that’s what the community did Monday evening. 

At the vigil, community members were each given a candle as they entered the field, and then found a flag to stand by. Several inspirational songs were played, and Pastor Craig Owens, of Calvary Assembly of God, offered a prayer. Everyone lit their candles and prayed for Cora as the lights on the field were dimmed. Drones flew overhead to live stream the event for those that couldn’t be there, and from overhead, the candles lit the message “Pray for Cora.” 

People of all ages and came out to pray for Cora Gonzales Monday evening. Post photo by J. Reed.

The event was organized by Danielle Hardenburg, a friend of the Gonzales family.

According to Cora’s parents’ messages in Team Cora, MRI results showed a lot of damage to Cora’s brain, and doctors do not feel she will heal enough to not be hooked up to many machines. On Wednesday, they were going to attempt to pull out her breathing tube to see if she could breathe on her own. 

A can drive was held last Saturdaya to help with Cora’s medical expenses, and another one will be held this Saturday at Skinner Field from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are also two gofundme pages set up for her—one from the Lowell community and one from Cedar Springs. If you would like to donate, you can visit the Cedar Springs page at https://www.gofundme.com/love-for-cora/

If you would like to take a meal to the Gonzales family, you can sign up at http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=TPEC7896.

For updates on Cora, you can follow the Team Cora page on Facebook.

Community members spelled out “Pray for Cora” with candles during the candlelight prayer vigil at Skinner Field Monday evening. Photo courtesy of Danielle Hardenburg.

Cora Gonzales

Sent to hospital in critical condition

An 11-year-old Oakfield Township girl is fighting for her life after she was hit by a car in front of her parents’ home on 14 Mile Road last Friday, October 6. She was still in critical condition at press time Wednesday, October 11.

According to the Michigan State Police, the accident occurred about 5:50 p.m., on 14 Mile Rd, between Harvard and Ramsdell. They reported that the girl was struck by an eastbound vehicle and was sent to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in critical condition. The accident is still under investigation. Oakfield Township Fire assisted MSP at the scene.

The girl, Cora Gonzales, is a fifth-grader at Cedar View Elementary, and the daughter of George and Cookie Gonzales. According to her gofundme page (https://www.gofundme.com/love-for-cora), she has bleeding in her brain in two separate areas, a broken left eye socket, an enlarged pupil in her left eye, a bruised kidney, a broken pelvis and left arm, and many bruises and cuts. Part of her skull has been removed to relieve pressure on her brain. An MRI Wednesday showed damage to the inner parts of her brain. The family is asking for prayers for healing for Cora.

“Cora is an outgoing, beautiful, talented well-liked 5th grader at Cedarview,” Cookie told The Post. “She loves playing soccer with the AYSO United team, running, wrestling, camping and spending time with her siblings and friends. She also loves participating in church events and loves her Lord, Jesus Christ with all her heart. We are humbled by all of the outpouring of support from the communities of Cedar Springs, Lowell and beyond,” she said.

The gofundme page has been set up to help the Gonzales family with Cora’s medical expenses not covered by insurance.

Follow the link (https://www.gofundme.com/love-for-cora) to donate. You can also keep up to date on what’s happening to Cora by following Team Cora on Facebook.

By Mark Schumann

On the final day of school, June 7, the entire student body of Cedar View Elementary went to Red Hawk Stadium for the 55 meter dash finals.

On May 31, all of the students participated in the annual field day. Students were active in 9 different events, with winners crowned in the football kick, tennis ball toss, soccer kick, jump rope contest and 55 meter dash. The other 4 non-competitive events were: gunny sack race, hurdles, kickball and the free play area.

The first place and second place boy and girl from the 55 meter dash races on May 31 moved to the championship event on June 7.

The final results were:

4th grade boys champion: Sawyer Smith

4th grade girls champion: Cora Gonzales

5th grade boys champion: Eli Howland

5th grade girls champion: Ja’Kayla Finley