Ramy Jadiel Ajualip Primero, the baby in his family, died unexpectedly at just 18 months old. He was rushed to the hospital after experiencing convulsions. A grim prognosis ensued. With no hope for recovery, the boy was taken off life support 15 days later.
In shock, Ramy’s parents were certain of one thing: They wanted to bury their baby in their native Guatemala, in the town they planned to return home to one day.
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center employee recommended Reid Van Ness, a funeral director and embalmer who spoke Spanish and had a reputation for reliably aiding Latino families in their time of grief – and a speciality in navigating the complex logistics of delivering bodies of the deceased from Tennessee to their native countries for burial.
Van Ness came to the boy’s hospital room. He told the family he would offer his services free of charge because they had lost a child. He offered a discounted $900 coffin and he promised the baby would arrive in Guatemala 15 days later for a family burial.
Weeks passed. The toddler’s body didn’t arrive. The parents called Van Ness repeatedly.