My name is Laura and I am one of Karissa’s aunts. This is how I remember Karissa as a child and more recently as a teenager. She was born on November 7, 1997. She grew up in San Diego, California and was primarily raised by her grandmother “Lola”. She was always a very happy child and she had a very close relationship with her Lola. Karissa started coming over to my parents’ house to visit when she was about 4 or 5 years old. At the time I lived with my parents in Lake Elsinore. Every year we would work it out with Lola so that Karissa could spend part of Thanksgiving and Christmas with us. She would also come over for about a week or so during her summer vacations.

Karissa was a darling little girl, so kind and friendly with everyone. I remember the very first time I met Karissa; she came over to my parents’ house to visit. I was just getting home from college or work and I knew she was going to be there, I was excited to meet her. I walked in the house and she was nowhere to be found. I was wondering, where’s Karissa? Then as I walked closer to the couch, she popped up from behind the couch and said as she was giggling, “Hi! I’m Karissa!” She had her hair in a high ponytail planted right on top of her head; she was so cute and full of energy. She was a very outgoing little girl and loved to laugh and joke around all the time. In case you are wondering exactly how I am related to Karissa, she is my sister Erica’s, ex-sister-in-laws’ daughter, or if it’s easier, she is my niece Marissa’s cousin. Karissa called me her aunt since the first time we met. Over the years Karissa continued to spend time with my family and we all became very close to her.

When Karissa was 13, her Lola suddenly passed away. This was a very difficult time for Karissa. She ended up moving to Orange County to live with my husband and me for about a year and a half. She started her first year of high school while she lived with us. I remember taking her to her first day to register for high school, I was more nervous than she was. I was afraid she might have a tough time meeting friends, what was I thinking, she was a social butterfly. Of course she met friends right away, I was so happy for her. About a year and a half went by, she was doing well but she missed San Diego greatly. She was homesick. She decided she really wanted to live with her two older sisters, Asha and Iyana and their father Rob. We all discussed it and decided it would be best for her to move back to San Diego. Karissa was very happy living with Rob and her two sisters. She actually referred to Rob as her own father and called him Dad and she idolized her older sisters, she was in a great place.

Then several months went by and as we all know she unexpectedly became ill in June of 2013. She was diagnosed with brain cancer. She struggled with her illness and fought hard for five months in the hospital to overcome it. We were all there for her and visited her as much as we could to try to help her pull through. It was thought she would be discharged from the hospital in late November. Then we received the horrible news that the cancer had spread throughout her body. Everyone was devastated. Unfortunately, there was nothing more the doctors could do for her and she sadly passed away on December 5, 2013.

Karissa was very special to me and my family. We shared such great moments with her over the years. We know she is now in heaven with Lola and they are watching over all of us. We loved Karissa very much and I am so happy we had the opportunity to be a part of her life. We love you Karissa.

I know Karissa touched the lives of many people. Please feel free to share how you remember her growing up or any special/funny moments you had with her.