Help Bella's family get her where she's going

Bella Katherine Ortega Esquivel has had quite the life and her story will forever change us all. 

She's the youngest of four to be born to Maria Esquivel to complete our family unit in 1991. We grew up in Los Angeles, then a bit in the outskirts of Chicago, and ended up returning to California in the Antelope Valley where we set our roots to grow together.

Bella faced health challenges at nine years old when her kidneys failed and began the rollercoaster ride that was her life. She faced so many health challenges from a young age and jumped over every hurdle along the way with a positive attitude. She created lasting relationships with family and friends with her loving kindness and humor because as we all know, laughter is the best medicine. Pills, IVs, and that sweet sweet Dilaudid (ok quick fave story of hers to tell, she was hospitalized and had a Dilaudid drip but nothing would happen when she pressed the button. She pressed it several times with no pain relief only for us to all find out simultaneously that I was stepping on the line. I released my foot and mannnnnn was she hiiiiiiiiigh when I did that. Giggles and a story to forever retell was born. Core memory saved.) can only go so far because laughter was the one true magic healer. 

Time and time again, she'd be diagnosed with a new ailment when she was only asking for relief and time and time again, she'd approach it with an understanding that God will give her all that she can handle. And she handled it all. 

She was more than kidney failure, she was more than lupus, she was more than any other ailment. She was a beautiful soul that found the beauty in everything and shared her laughter with the world. Her stitch impressions, the quick jokes to laugh at herself and her situation, her hugs, her love for stress relief hand sanitizer, her love of the beach and Disneyland were all parts of her that allowed the rest of us to enjoy the beautiful person she is. I say is because while her body may no longer be able to hug us and hold us and tell us jokes, she's forever around us. She's dancing with the angels, sharing her jokes and life lessons with all those around her in heaven and making them wish they had a sliver of the love she had while she was here with us.

She was our hero, our inspiration, and the reason many close to her learned to appreciate life for what it is. Life is fragile and while we're all playing the same game, we're not all dealt the same hand. You play with what you have and you make the best of it until the game is over but you never quit playing. She gave hella poker face and pretended to be bluffing her way into our hearts when she had the winning hand all along and we folded to her love. 

We hurt because we miss her but should rejoice in the fact that there are no more new ailments, no new bruises, no new medications and definitely no need to bring out the Momster (Mom's nickname for going off on nurses and doctors) anymore. 

Bella was braver than all of us combined because she knew this day was coming and was preparing for it. Things happen when they're meant to happen and we need to continue living for her in the best way possible - with positivity and love. Things may happen to us that we don't like but we're here for a short time and we have to ensure what we put out in the world will ultimately make it a better place. Tell your joke even if it's silly, hug your friend even if they're mad and always always always facetime a friend or family member when you're holding a little piglet because OMG HOW CUTE ARE LITTLE PIGGIES AMIRIGHT?!

Love hard and live hard. Drink up for those that can't. Travel for those that can't (after pandemics please). Love for those that don't know how. But most of all, remember and focus on all the good times that life grants you and never take them for granted because we never know when our last good memory, holiday, birthday is until the next one comes around and we're missing someone at the table.

Until we meet again my sweet sister. Watch over us and hook it up with those lotto numbers like you said you would. We love you Bella.