Fund for Jusa Mejia's Funeral
Donation protected
Hello. My name is Eric Delapaz. I would like to tell you a story about a special person I hold deep in my heart. Her name is Jusa Mejia. Jusa was my best friend who grew up in LA. She was 4'11" and wore size 6 shoes. However, for a person of such small stature she had the biggest heart that I've ever known. She had dark hair that shined brown in the light. She always parted her hair on one side and wore it long. She made it a point not to put any product in her hair nor blowdry it. She did this because every few years after growing it out, she would cut it and donate it. You see, she was inspired by her mother who had passed away from cancer. The chemotherapy caused Jusa's mother to lose her hair. So she always thought that donating her hair was a good way to help somebody in need of it.
Her favorite food was chili cheese fries and she enjoyed sweets. When we would go out to eat she would say, "let's get dessert!" I wasn't big on sweets so I would reply with a resounding "no" explaining the disadvantages of too much sugar and empty calories. However, despite my countless attempts to impose my will, she would get the best of me. Disappointed in her decision, I would watch her gobble half of a cake like a hungry lion. After she had her fill, she had this mocking smile on her face that said, "I don't care what you think, I had my cake and I ate it too!" After seeing how happy she was, I could never stay upset at her. She would pick up a second fork and hand it to me. Shortly after, with a smirk of my own I would consume the rest.
Jusa and I have known each other for 13 years. I met her in the parking lot of our church in Oxnard, CA. I was 19, she was 16. Th first time I met her she gave me a tight squeeze of a hug, wrapping her arms around my neck. Little did I know this girl would later on be the love of my life.
8 years would pass by before our paths crossed again. A mutual friend of ours decided to go to Pink's Hotdog stand in heart of LA. Eagerly waiting in line, fate would bring us together that night. Anybody who had the pleasure of knowing Jusa knew she was a social butterfly.
"Hey, let me get your number." More of a demand rather than a request. I smiled.
"Sure." I gave her my cell number and she dialed the digits into her mobile. She pressed the "call" button and my name instantly popped up.
"Oh. Looks like I had it this whole time!" We both laughed, exchanged pleasantries and went our separate ways for the evening.
A few days later, I would receive a text from her. She asked how I was and if I wanted to have lunch. It was a gloomy day and it had begun to rain. Minding the weather, we decided to have pho for lunch. On that day, I learned that she was a premature baby who weighed only 2 pounds at birth. I learned that at the age of 3, her father went out to buy diapers--and never came back. I also learned of her strong willed mother who single handedly raised her and sacrificed so much so that Jusa would have all the opportinities that she didn't have. Jusa's mother, Juanita, would lose her fight to cancer. This had inspired Jusa to pursue a career in nursing. At this time of her life, she would wake up every morning at 4:00 am to study, go to school from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, then work at CarMax washing cars from 3:30 until 11:00 pm. I was intrigued and impressed at how a person who's struggled so much throughout her life could seem so happy and positive. Needless to say, I was adamant on picking up the tab.
After lunch, while walking to my car the rain started to pour heavily. At a feeble attempt of chivalry, I decided to pull my trench coat over her head to protect her from the rain. Drops of precipitation fogged my glasses and I was blind. Then--bam! I had run poor Jusa into a tree. Poor little, petite, 4'11", 97 pound Jusa. I was embarrassed. We were able to stumble ourselves into my car. I stared dubiously at Jusa waiting for her to yell at me, or call me an idiot. She burst in laughter. It was the funniest thing that happed to her in a while. I started laughing too. My heart felt a tug.
On December 31, 2013, I was a mess. I was so scared that my axiety would be visible to the world, let alone Jusa. I had planned to propose to her. I had kept her engagment ring on my person for the whole day. I would have felt better about the situation if there wasn't a boxed shaped imprint in my left pocket. My plan was to wait til 12 O'Clock midnight and propose to Jusa for the new year. Jusa had this idea of getting a mason jar and we would write three resolutions down on a card and put them into the jar. Also every month we would write what we're thankful for and store those as well. We would read them at the end of the next year to see how we did. 11:00 pm, Jusa was getting sleepy.
"Okay, lets write down our resolutions, read them, then I'm leaving and going to sleep." Are you kidding?
"You're not going to wait for the countdown?"
"Meh, it's the same as last year. I'm tired and it's getting late." It's now or never.
She wrote down her three resolutions, as did I making sure she didn't see what I wrote.
"You go first." I said.
She read her three resolutions which I honestly can't remember for the life of me because I was so focused on the execution of this proposal mission.
"Okay, your turn."
I read the first two of my resolutions, then I got to number three: Start the first year of the rest of my life with Jusa. I read the last line, and bent down on one knee.
"Will you marry me?" I said eagerly. Thank God I finally did it.
11:11 pm, I proposed to Jusa. Her eyes glassed and streams poured down her face. We embraced and her wet lips pursed and mashed into mine. To this day she still has never actually said "yes".
October of 2014. Jusa had gotten sick. We had planned to get married in January of 2015, however her health kept us from doing so. Jusa would spend the majority of her days bound to a hospital bed. She had her left kidney removed and she suffered from bowel obstructions from previous surgeries. Pieces of her small bowel were removed because they were dead. For seven months she had an open wound on her belly and her intestines were separated. She would be unable to eat anything the entire time. Her nutrition would be fed through her veins via a PICC line and her pain was constant. Despite everything that she was suffering through, she always seemed to look on the bright side of things. She would still smile and touch the hearts of those around her. Her life had already been filled with so much tragedy and hardship, yet she still had hope and love. She was the epitome of tenacity. She inspired others and she especially inspired me.
Her story of hope, faith, and love will never be forgotten. [Click here for Jusa's story]
August 10, Jusa was discharged from the hospital. I will share her words with you:
So I'm finally home after a long 10-month stay in the hospital fighting for my life multiple times but I must say a lot of good has come out of it as well. I've learned to never take life for granted and my relationship to God has gotten a lot closer. My relationship with Eric has been tested many times but we have only gotten stronger. Hopefully, we will be married next January. I have a lot to be thankful for, hope that was my last surgery and my last hospital stay....THANK YOU GOD FOR LETTING ME SURVIVE and THANK YOU to my very supportive friends and fiancé for going thru this journey with me, oh and what a journey it's been.
It brings peace to my heart to know that she was closer to God and her outlook and appreciation for life was stronger than ever. She truly is the strongest woman I've ever known. On August 16, 2015 we celebrated her last birthday. She was 29.
On August 22, 2015 at 11:44 am, Jusa had been laid to rest. I find comfort in knowing that she was able to pass on at home where she was happiest. I wish that instead of planning her funeral I could continue our plans for our wedding. I feel that a sense of sadness looms over the world. However, she wouldn't want us to be sad for her but to rejoice because we are still here. She showed us that even in a life of trajedy and hardship it's still possible to live life to the fullest. Love more passionately, laugh as much as you can, and encourage each other to be strong. Happiness is a choice and not conditional.
Jusa, I love you with all my heart. Rest well gorgeous.
This is our story...
Her favorite food was chili cheese fries and she enjoyed sweets. When we would go out to eat she would say, "let's get dessert!" I wasn't big on sweets so I would reply with a resounding "no" explaining the disadvantages of too much sugar and empty calories. However, despite my countless attempts to impose my will, she would get the best of me. Disappointed in her decision, I would watch her gobble half of a cake like a hungry lion. After she had her fill, she had this mocking smile on her face that said, "I don't care what you think, I had my cake and I ate it too!" After seeing how happy she was, I could never stay upset at her. She would pick up a second fork and hand it to me. Shortly after, with a smirk of my own I would consume the rest.
Jusa and I have known each other for 13 years. I met her in the parking lot of our church in Oxnard, CA. I was 19, she was 16. Th first time I met her she gave me a tight squeeze of a hug, wrapping her arms around my neck. Little did I know this girl would later on be the love of my life.
8 years would pass by before our paths crossed again. A mutual friend of ours decided to go to Pink's Hotdog stand in heart of LA. Eagerly waiting in line, fate would bring us together that night. Anybody who had the pleasure of knowing Jusa knew she was a social butterfly.
"Hey, let me get your number." More of a demand rather than a request. I smiled.
"Sure." I gave her my cell number and she dialed the digits into her mobile. She pressed the "call" button and my name instantly popped up.
"Oh. Looks like I had it this whole time!" We both laughed, exchanged pleasantries and went our separate ways for the evening.
A few days later, I would receive a text from her. She asked how I was and if I wanted to have lunch. It was a gloomy day and it had begun to rain. Minding the weather, we decided to have pho for lunch. On that day, I learned that she was a premature baby who weighed only 2 pounds at birth. I learned that at the age of 3, her father went out to buy diapers--and never came back. I also learned of her strong willed mother who single handedly raised her and sacrificed so much so that Jusa would have all the opportinities that she didn't have. Jusa's mother, Juanita, would lose her fight to cancer. This had inspired Jusa to pursue a career in nursing. At this time of her life, she would wake up every morning at 4:00 am to study, go to school from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, then work at CarMax washing cars from 3:30 until 11:00 pm. I was intrigued and impressed at how a person who's struggled so much throughout her life could seem so happy and positive. Needless to say, I was adamant on picking up the tab.
After lunch, while walking to my car the rain started to pour heavily. At a feeble attempt of chivalry, I decided to pull my trench coat over her head to protect her from the rain. Drops of precipitation fogged my glasses and I was blind. Then--bam! I had run poor Jusa into a tree. Poor little, petite, 4'11", 97 pound Jusa. I was embarrassed. We were able to stumble ourselves into my car. I stared dubiously at Jusa waiting for her to yell at me, or call me an idiot. She burst in laughter. It was the funniest thing that happed to her in a while. I started laughing too. My heart felt a tug.
On December 31, 2013, I was a mess. I was so scared that my axiety would be visible to the world, let alone Jusa. I had planned to propose to her. I had kept her engagment ring on my person for the whole day. I would have felt better about the situation if there wasn't a boxed shaped imprint in my left pocket. My plan was to wait til 12 O'Clock midnight and propose to Jusa for the new year. Jusa had this idea of getting a mason jar and we would write three resolutions down on a card and put them into the jar. Also every month we would write what we're thankful for and store those as well. We would read them at the end of the next year to see how we did. 11:00 pm, Jusa was getting sleepy.
"Okay, lets write down our resolutions, read them, then I'm leaving and going to sleep." Are you kidding?
"You're not going to wait for the countdown?"
"Meh, it's the same as last year. I'm tired and it's getting late." It's now or never.
She wrote down her three resolutions, as did I making sure she didn't see what I wrote.
"You go first." I said.
She read her three resolutions which I honestly can't remember for the life of me because I was so focused on the execution of this proposal mission.
"Okay, your turn."
I read the first two of my resolutions, then I got to number three: Start the first year of the rest of my life with Jusa. I read the last line, and bent down on one knee.
"Will you marry me?" I said eagerly. Thank God I finally did it.
11:11 pm, I proposed to Jusa. Her eyes glassed and streams poured down her face. We embraced and her wet lips pursed and mashed into mine. To this day she still has never actually said "yes".
October of 2014. Jusa had gotten sick. We had planned to get married in January of 2015, however her health kept us from doing so. Jusa would spend the majority of her days bound to a hospital bed. She had her left kidney removed and she suffered from bowel obstructions from previous surgeries. Pieces of her small bowel were removed because they were dead. For seven months she had an open wound on her belly and her intestines were separated. She would be unable to eat anything the entire time. Her nutrition would be fed through her veins via a PICC line and her pain was constant. Despite everything that she was suffering through, she always seemed to look on the bright side of things. She would still smile and touch the hearts of those around her. Her life had already been filled with so much tragedy and hardship, yet she still had hope and love. She was the epitome of tenacity. She inspired others and she especially inspired me.
Her story of hope, faith, and love will never be forgotten. [Click here for Jusa's story]
August 10, Jusa was discharged from the hospital. I will share her words with you:
So I'm finally home after a long 10-month stay in the hospital fighting for my life multiple times but I must say a lot of good has come out of it as well. I've learned to never take life for granted and my relationship to God has gotten a lot closer. My relationship with Eric has been tested many times but we have only gotten stronger. Hopefully, we will be married next January. I have a lot to be thankful for, hope that was my last surgery and my last hospital stay....THANK YOU GOD FOR LETTING ME SURVIVE and THANK YOU to my very supportive friends and fiancé for going thru this journey with me, oh and what a journey it's been.
It brings peace to my heart to know that she was closer to God and her outlook and appreciation for life was stronger than ever. She truly is the strongest woman I've ever known. On August 16, 2015 we celebrated her last birthday. She was 29.
On August 22, 2015 at 11:44 am, Jusa had been laid to rest. I find comfort in knowing that she was able to pass on at home where she was happiest. I wish that instead of planning her funeral I could continue our plans for our wedding. I feel that a sense of sadness looms over the world. However, she wouldn't want us to be sad for her but to rejoice because we are still here. She showed us that even in a life of trajedy and hardship it's still possible to live life to the fullest. Love more passionately, laugh as much as you can, and encourage each other to be strong. Happiness is a choice and not conditional.
Jusa, I love you with all my heart. Rest well gorgeous.
This is our story...
Organizer
Eric Delapaz
Organizer
Long Beach, CA
