Who We Are:
We are Cesar and Kila Gonzales, founders of I Will Carry You. Our passion for supporting families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss, and our reason for starting this non-profit organization, stems from our unwavering love for our second born, our beautiful daughter, Eva Katherine. On March 4th, 2019, our precious Eva died shortly after her birth due to a rare, fatal, birth defect called Limb Body Wall Complex. We learned of her diagnosis, and impending death, at just 16 weeks pregnant, and we carried her until 33 weeks when she was born via emergent cesarean section. Though she only stayed with us here on Earth a short time, she left an impact that will last forever.
When Eva died, we began fervently praying that God would reveal to us how he could use this heartbreak, how he could use US to help others, as well as bring him glory in the process. Now, we believe, that prayer has been answered. We have made it our lives’ mission to not only keep our Eva’s memory alive , but also to help others facing the devastating tragedy that is pregnancy and infant loss. Kila decided to train, through Still Birthday Academy, to become a Certified Birth & Bereavement Doula, and to start this non-profit organization, in honor of Eva.
Kila and Cesar believe that families enduring pregnancy and infant loss shouldn’t have to worry about finding and funding the services they so desperately need. That is why they provide their birth and bereavement services at absolutely no cost. All funds are generated by fundraising and by donations from the community.
In addition to Kila, the organization now has a team of three other mothers, who have also endured pregnancy and infant loss, and have now trained to become birth and bereavement doulas. Louisiana remains in the top five for pregnancy and infant loss. Now, with more doulas, I Will Carry You has the ability to serve as many families as possible.
“Pregnancy and infant loss is one of the most devastating, Earth-shattering, and life-altering things a family can endure, and we, at I Will Carry You, want to help carry them through it. Our community is severely lacking in the support and resources that grieving families need, and we pray that we can make a difference by providing help, healing, and hope through I Will Carry You".”
-Kila Gonzales, Founder
