Kiela Hari Sunshine Gwin, passed away last week. She was 26 years old and she took her own life. Kiela was not only a gifted artist (sculptor, painter, seamstress, sketcher -- everything little creature or picture she created was imbued with a life of it's own) but she was a talented musician (she wrote and produced 3 albums), had earned highest honors at UNM as a double major in Anthropology and Psychology, had co-authored a paper in a science journal, and had most recently been working at the University of Utah on creating new programming for statistical genetics and training her team how to use it. Her humongous compassion for humanity and all living creatures compelled her to continually volunteer to help the homeless, immigrants at the border, and animals.

She was, in the truest sense of the word, BRILLIANT.

She also struggled. She struggled from a history of childhood trauma. When she was just 15, she lost most of her hearing after she had tried to kill herself, and the doctors overdosed her on a medication that causes hearing loss. She struggled with mental illness. After months of manic behavior and being in and out of hospitals this past year, she was finally on a medication that stabilized her. But unfortunately it also made her feel dull and numb. She returned to Santa Fe to live with our wonderful and supportive brother who has been a guardian since she was 15. I was there visiting just last month and she seemed to be doing pretty well. Hopeful for things - volunteering, breaking in some new art supplies.

But she was in immense pain. Part of that pain stemmed from the shame that she felt after realizing she had been posting on social media throughout her manic episodes. It was all on display for the world to see. We reassured her that it didn't matter, that no one cared what she posted, and that what matters is that we love her. Social media has this insidious side - which is one reason I haven't posted anything until now. As I type this, I'm still not sure that I should even post it.

However, the world needs to see the brilliance that my sister Kiela brought in her 26 young years, so I share this so that she will be seen, appreciated, loved, admired, and cherished - as she makes the transition to her peace.