My name is Chris. I am Angelene’s father. There are moments in all of our lives – in all of our families – that are defining moments. These are moments in the history of your family that are going to stand out. This is one of those moments. This is every parent’s nightmare. It’s not supposed to be this way.
Let me tell you a little bit about Angelene – I love telling people about how she touched so many lives with her gentle soul and kind spirit.
The day Angelene was born, my life became more than just my life. Suddenly I was part of a network that stretched across generations, and it was all because of this beautiful little bundle of joy. When my baby girl was young, her big eyes and her infectious smile melted my heart. Even though, as life would have it, her mother and I separated early on and Angelene and I ended up living in different parts of the country, our relationship was close and filled with love. Angelene loved to read. Every time I’d see her she’d have a new book. She loved sitting on my lap and having me read her stories. I called Angelene “my little Mermaid” because she would wiggle a lot and never stay still. She was so full of energy and life. She had an infectious smile and winning personality that won the hearts of all she met.
Unfortunately, at age 11 Angelene was diagnosed with epilepsy. Her condition continued to worsen over the years, and my little girl was scared as the seizures became a regular occurrence. I will never forget the day she told me, "Daddy, I’m afraid of dying". As a parent, the sheer helplessness you feel in a situation like this is absolutely terrifying.
But Angelene was strong in her fight to overcome her condition. She always saw the glass as half full and truly had a heart of gold. In no time, my baby girl had grown into a beautiful and intelligent young woman with numerous dreams and aspirations. Angelene had recently graduated from Saddleback College with an AA degree and was planning to return to school to pursue her interest in Nursing. She had a passion for helping others and would go out of her way to help those in need. My daughter had a gift for writing. She wanted everyone to know her story and had started to pen a memoir about the story of her life. She was half way done when she passed away.
Angelene had so much to live for, and she wanted to live for it so desperately. Unfortunately, her condition won the upper hand afterall. In early April, she suffered a massive seizure that left her hospitalized for three days. Two weeks later, on April 18, my baby passed away.
I am still in shock. I missed a call from Angelene on April 17, and when I learned of her most recent seizure and her death a few days later, it left me paralyzed. Angelene passed away just 11 days short of her 24th birthday. Her biggest birthday wish was to see her daddy again after so long and to finally meet her little brother Niki.
All of this, her entire life ahead of her, was taken from her for reasons I can’t seem to grasp. It is obvious that God had other plans for her, but as a parent, you still struggle with His decision to take in your child at such a young age with a bright future ahead of them. What comforts me is knowing that Angelene is now at peace and safe in the arms of our Lord and Saviour, free from pain and seizures, watching over all of us.
We have now setup this memorial fund for Angelene to allow anyone who feels a connection or wishes to contribute may so do in a manner that's safe and simple. All funds will be used towards paying for my daughter’s funeral services. However large or small your donation, please know that I deeply appreciate your kind contribution from the bottom of my heart, and I know Angelene would, too.
“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.” - Kahlil Gibran http://www.gofundme.com/angelene
