Before anything else, I want you to know who my daughter was.
Lahela was 13 years old. She was hysterically funny, incredibly intelligent, and fiercely loyal to the people and animals she loved. She had a way of making people laugh, and once she loved someone, she stood by them with her whole heart.
She had a heart that belonged to animals, especially dogs. One of her biggest dreams was to own a farm one day where she could rescue and care for dogs. She believed in "adopt, don't shop." She wanted to save the world one pup at a time. She never saw them as "just animals." She saw them as family, deserving of love, kindness, and a safe place to call home.
She loved makeup and enjoyed expressing herself through creativity. Like many girls her age, she found joy in trying new looks and discovering what made her feel beautiful.
One of her favorite treats was a caramel frappe'. It was one of those simple things that could brighten her day.
She also loved watching the sky. She was fascinated by the moments when the sun transformed the clouds into shades of orange, pink, purple, and red. She noticed beauty that many people walked right past. Those colorful sunsets reminded her-and now remind me-that even as one day ends, there can still be breathtaking beauty.
Lahela struggled for years with anxiety and depression. She often told me she wanted to die, and those words broke my heart. I did everything I knew to do. I sought help from doctors, therapists, and anyone who might be able to reach her. I fought for my daughter with everything I had because I loved her more than words could ever express.
In the end, mental illness took her from me, but it will never define who she was.
Lahela was so much more than her struggle. She was hysterically funny. She was brilliant. She was loyal. She dreamed of a future filled with dogs, and found happiness in a caramel frappe', loved expressing herself through makeup, and never stopped looking up at colorful sunsets.
This community exists because of her. It is my way of honoring her life, remembering her beautiful spirit, and reaching out to other parents who know this unimaginable loss. I hope the world remembers Lahela not for how she died, but for how she lived, how deeply show loved, and how deeply she is still loved.