26-year-old now father figure to siblings after mom died of COVID-19

Family first. Self second. That has been Tre Gaston-Ellis' motto this year.

Gaston-Ellis let the tears flow while speaking of his mother, Eulalia, who died of COVID-19 suddenly in August at age 54.

The oldest male child in a household of six always wondered why his mother seemed to be harder on him than his other siblings.

“She was always on me,” he said. “Always wanting me to do the best I could do. That’s it. Pushing for the best.”

Maybe she knew it all those years ago, but Eulalia was preparing her young man for adulthood. No one could foresee that he would be the head of the household at the tender age of 26, but life can throw some cruel punches when one least expects it.

Tre Gaston-Ellis and his four siblings — Deaza, 25; Railyne, 22; Kalieve, 17; and Kaiden, 16 — are part of the Statesman’s Season for Caring program, which shares the stories of local families and helps hundreds of others in partnership with local nonprofit organizations. A sixth sibling lives in Atlanta.

The family was nominated by Hospice Austin, which has a mission to ease the physical, emotional and spiritual pain of any person in the community facing the final months of a serious illness.

Local generosity: Sheth family matching $500,000 in Season for Caring donations

Tre inherited his mother’s strong will and fighting spirit. When the family was rocked by her passing six days before the Pfizer vaccine gained the FDA approval she was waiting for, he put the welfare of his brothers and sisters at the top of his priority list while he grieved.

The family is currently split among three households. Eulalia had signed a new lease before her death, but the landlord would not allow the family to pick up the rent payments. They had to find other lodging.

Kalieve, a senior at Cedar Ridge High School, moved into the Pflugerville apartment Tre shares with his partner, Shantel Isaac, and their infant son, Malakhi.

Read more: Season for Caring, Tre Gaston-Ellis: After mom lost to COVID-19, siblings raising younger siblings

Kaiden, a sophomore at Cedar Ridge High, lives with Railyne in Round Rock. Deaza lives with a family friend in North Austin but plans to get her own place soon.

Their father lives in San Diego and visits sometimes but doesn’t provide much financial assistance.

Tre has help from his oldest two sisters, but he knows it’s up to him to provide the support and guidance for the whole group. He is a barber and plans to earn more money as an overnight stocker.

He loves his siblings — kisses and hugs abounded during an October home visit — but doesn’t mind laying down the law when it comes to disciplining the youngest two.

Ways to give: P. Terry's to donate all profits on Saturday to Season for Caring

“He makes sure all my stuff is done, like my homework,” Kalieve said. “Making sure I’m clean. Making sure I’m organized and trying to do everything right in a timely manner.”

Tre believes he is growing into the man his mother wanted him to become. He has tremendous responsibilities for someone so young, but underneath his laid-back demeanor lies that heart of a protector.

“Right now, there aren’t any breaks,” he said. “We can’t afford any breaks right now. I have my future wife here, my new baby, my little brother who just moved in, and my sisters. If I don’t do what I’m supposed to do, they could lose something. I won’t let that happen.”

Ways to donate: Crib, wheelchair, winter coats: Donors help Season for Caring families through Amazon wish lists

Since Season for Caring launched on Nov. 28, the family has received a salon chair for Shantel, a baby gym, a gently used bicycle and an instant pot. They need car repairs, a gently used SUV and a car, laptops and printers, help paying bills, barber supplies, eye care and prescription glasses, a gently used viola, and help with college applications.

To find out more about the Gaston-Ellis family or to give an item on their wish list, contact Hospice Austin at 512-342-4726, hospiceaustin.org.

Donate to Statesman Season for Caring

Now through Christmas, the Sheth family is matching up to $500,000 in donations. On Saturday, all P. Terry's and Taco Ranch locations will donate that day's profits to the program.

Find out more about Season for Caring, read the stories of the featured families and make a donation at statesman.com/seasonforcaring. You also can find a coupon to mail in a donation on Page 2B.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Season for Caring: 26-year-old now father figure to siblings after mom died of COVID