Lueza

The first friend I had in New York City when Sophie was a baby, newly diagnosed with infantile spasms, was my friend Jody. Her daughter, Lueza had suffered a brain injury at birth and subsequently had severe cerebral palsy. Jody and I strolled the streets with our girls, our first children, sometimes crying, sometimes bitter and witty, and most always laughing. Not long after we moved to southern California, Jody and her husband with their two girls moved to the west coast as well, to northern California and through all these years, we have stayed in touch, visited one another and talked on the phone for hours.

Beautiful, joyful Lueza died this morning, suddenly, and we are all heartbroken.

Despite the unholy knowledge that Jody and many of us have, that we might possibly outlive our children, it is still shocking when it happens. Unbearable actually, at least in this moment.

I will miss Lueza, her smile, her light, and I am grateful to have known her and to know her beautiful parents. They gave her life and more life and so much love.