"Honoring Jessica Damiao – Help Fulfill Her Final Wish"

"I have Sickle Cell, but Sickle Cell doesn’t have me."

This was the mantra that carried Ana "Jessica" Damiao through a lifetime of battles—facing pain, hospital stays, and moments where most would have given up. But not Jessica. She was a fighter, full of light, love, and an unbreakable spirit.

With heavy hearts, we share the devastating news of Jessica’s passing on February 26, 2025. She spent her life defying the odds, refusing to let sickle cell disease define her. She smiled through the pain, laughed through the struggles, and never let her condition stop her from loving fiercely. But despite her strength and resilience, her body could no longer fight.

Jessica was more than her illness—she was a devoted mother, a beloved daughter, a sister, cousin, and friend who left an unforgettable mark on everyone she met. She radiated warmth, had a heart full of kindness, and her sense of humor could lift the darkest days. But above all, she was a mother. Her greatest love, her greatest purpose, was her beautiful daughter, Micaela. Every decision she made was with Micaela in mind, ensuring she felt loved, protected, and supported.

Now, we are faced with the heartbreaking task of laying Jessica to rest—a reality we never imagined facing so soon. We want to honor her the way she deserved, fulfilling her final wish to be buried next to her mother in New Jersey. But we can’t do this alone.

We are asking for your support—whether you knew Jessica personally or are simply moved by her story. Any donation, big or small, will help us give her a proper farewell and provide for Micaela’s future, ensuring that Jessica’s love and dreams for her daughter continue even in her absence.

If you cannot donate, please consider sharing Jessica’s story. Your kindness, prayers, and generosity mean everything to us in this unimaginable time.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for helping us honor Jessica’s life and ensuring her daughter is cared for in the way she would have wanted.

With love and gratitude,

Jessica’s Family