Mama,

I will never forget our last family trip to Tumbes. It was the best trip of my life; you made me open my eyes to a whole new world! A world where you didn't need money or materialistic things to have fun or be happy. A world where all you needed was love and lots of family time, so simple and beautiful. I remember when you showed me the little piggies, they were so fat! I had never seen piggies before & when you told me not to pull the sheep's tail, haha. Also, when I asked "grandma, what's the doggies name?" and you answered "cual?" I said "grandma, that dog!" you said "cual?" and again..."this one grandma!!!" hahaha but what you meant was that his name WAS CUAL...duh! I thought you kept asking "which one?" That was so funny! Swimming in th canal was also a blast and my fondest memory was dessert time, huge delicious pots that took hours to cook. After you were done cooking all 7-12 of us ran with our spoons to scrape the bottom like fatties, haha. You're the best, I love you. I thank you for raising my uncles and aunt to be the way you always were, loving and extremly generous. You gave me the best mom I could have ever asked for! And an uncle that I consider a second father. You are so loved grandma-- but I'm sure you know that! Unfortunately, God took you away from us too soon. I'll never understand why? Or why, YOU got cancer. Why my grandma? What did you ever do to deserve this? What did we ever do? Did we not pray enough for you? Did I not pray enough for you? When I heard that your tumor was getting better, I felt as if we were going to have a huge miracle coming our way, that one day we could look back at this and say "WOW!" I was extremley hopeful. The day mom told me that you were getting better, tears ran down my face. I was overjoyed with happiness. I couldn't beleive it! I thought to myself "yay! I knew it wasn't true, I knew the doctors diagnosed her wrong! The tumor will shrink and we can eventually get rid of it with surgery. I'll have my grandma for years to come, she'll be at my wedding and meet my children!" Then two weeks later, I get the news at school. I couldn't beleive it grandma, I really couldn't. I cried the whole way back home hoping that it was all a nightmare, until I saw my mommy, heartbroken. I really wish you were still here with us, family had such a huge surprise for you (for Mother's Day). You would have loved it--either way, I know you'll be with all of us in spirit.

Love you, forever & I'll see you when it's my time grandma, can't wait!

Cuando estes en el paraiso el señor te conducira hacia los pastos mas verdes y hermosos, y hacia las aguuas mas claras y calmadas que existen alla. El restaurara tu espirito y su infinito amor y bondad te acompañaran en tu otra vida y tu viviras en la casa de dios por siempre. Que la conformidad de dios este cerca de todos los familiares y de quienes quisimos tanto a Doña Rosa, especialmente en estos momentos de afliccion. Tu hijo, Walter.