Diana L. Medina

Throughout her life, Diana Lee Medina was very thoughtful, caring, and affable to all. She would do anything for those she knew and loved, inspiring them in her own special way. She had touched “so many lives and made a stamp on the world.” In them, she instilled joy, love, and kind spirit, making them all feel a great part of her family. She always wanted the best for everyone.

Diana was born on April 2, 1983 at Balboa Naval Hospital, San Diego, California to Karen (Del Rosario) and Gene Medina. She was raised overseas in Italy and Japan where Gene, a Supply Corps officer in the U.S. Navy, was assigned consecutively (3 years in each country) from 1984 to 1989.

Even at an early age, Diana showed strong qualities of connecting with people, making them laugh and smile at “all the crazy things” she said and did. She had a good sense of humor and loved making funny faces. Diana carried these traits into adult life, which served as an icebreaker and life of the party. At weddings or birthday parties, she always had “a blast, which was reflective of her fun-loving nature.”

Diana grew up with her older sister, Carrie Jane (Janie), her only sibling. Although they were five years apart in age, they were very close. If Diana had any problems, Janie was always her automatic choice for advice. They had an incredible and unbreakable sisterly bond. When Janie married Chris Rafael, Diana was excited to have gained a “brother” she called “BIL” to also bond and seek advice from. One of Diana’s happiest moments came when Janie gave birth to a beautiful child, Carissa, whom she loved and enjoyed very much.

Since childhood, Diana had always been interested in sports and outdoor activities. At Escondido High School, she played basketball and received the “Dedicated to the Sports Award” and the “Most Inspirational Award” in Lady Cougar Varsity Basketball. She was also a co-captain of their cross-country racing team. In college, her favorite sports included surfing, snowboarding, hiking, skydiving, and golf.

Diana was an avid fan of the San Diego Chargers and the Padres. She fully enjoyed going to their games with her father, Janie, and Chris, loudly cheering for her favorite team. In boxing, Manny Pacquaio was her idol.

Academically, Diana was an outstanding student, especially in English, Math, Chemistry and Microbiology. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.

Upon graduation, Diana resided in Laguna Beach, CA where she worked for Comprehensive Educational Services, Inc. to teach autistic children. With her love for kids and positivity, she motivated them to learn and bring out the best in them despite their handicap. It meant so much to her to be able to help those with special needs.

Diana also worked part time at night in Irvine high-end restaurants where she met sports celebrities including Tiger Woods, Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod), etc. Yet, after work, she still found time to pursue her master’s degree at National University in Ontario, about an hour drive from Laguna Beach.

Diana had so many dreams and goals. There was never a day that she did not strive to perform at the utmost of her abilities to achieve the results she desired. She was a perfectionist and well organized. In any course or subject, she was never happy receiving a grade less than an A. So she studied hard and constantly pushed for excellence.

Unfortunately, in June of 2011, leukemia struck. It did not, however, stop her “to live life and love to the fullest, to embrace people warmly and generously.” Diana was a “wonderful person, talented, loving, and bubbly who made life so much more fun for her friends, cousins, and other relatives around her.”

She had since gained more friends. Even doctors, nurses, CNA’s, pharmacists, chaplains, and cooks in Scripps Green Hospital, UCSD Moores Cancer Center, and MD Anderson Cancer Center had become very close to her to the point that a nurse commented, “Diana, you have more pull than any of us here in the hospital to make or change your appointments anytime.”

Diana had made powerful connections with everyone. In the hospitals, they found her pleasurable to be around and, more so, to care for because of her good nature and “positive perspective in life.” Some asked to be assigned as her nurse. Some came back to visit and chat with her during their breaks. Still, some continued to see her when she transferred to another hospital.

In a Facebook message to Diana, a nurse wrote, “I am impressed by your strength and desire to make a difference in other people's lives even when you were the one struggling. Your strength has often been with me as I care for others.”

Diana encouraged other patients at Scripps Green Hospital to stay positive and walk with her in the hallways for a daily exercise. She also helped in the music Chaplain Cook was writing and named it “The Calling”. In the hospital auditorium, during a meeting of doctors, nurses and hospital staff, Reverend Cook played this music before Diana’s inspirational speech, after which everyone was in tears. The Marketing Department later requested Diana to have a photograph with the chaplains for a hospital poster.

Before her transfer to UCSD Moores Cancer Center, Diana went through six cycles of chemotherapy that would have normally been eight. She had “broken all patient records” with positive attitude and courage to beat cancer. She completed her allogenic stem cell transplant and was discharged from UCSD Thornton Hospital in 10 days that other patients would have taken a lot longer. She was very grateful to everyone – family, doctors, nurses, and friends, especially to Kingsley Casayuran, her donor and a former Marine stationed in Afghanistan, for giving her “a second chance at life” and for enabling her to pursue her dreams.

While still undergoing treatments at UCSD Moores Cancer Center, Diana continued to encourage other cancer patients not to give up. She would go to their rooms to chat and pray with them. A patient’s parent came to her father and said, “Thanks to your daughter for inspiring my son to fight. He did not want to receive treatments anymore, but Diana had changed his mind.”

Diana not only made an effort to give hope to other leukemia patients, she also took the time to raise funds on their behalf. She participated in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) annual “Light the Night Walk” at Petco Park directly after receiving brain radiation at UCSD. And, with the support of family and friends, she collected more than $2,000 in donations for cancer research.

On several occasions, usually the next day after her chemo or radiation, Diana woke up early to drive and provide inspirational speeches to participants of LLS 10K Runs. She did this even when she did not feel 100%. She remained focused on whatever she had set out to do.

Diana took medical training and orientation to work once a week as a volunteer at Palomar Hospital in Escondido, assisting nurses and helping patients with their daily needs. This was at the time when she herself was still undergoing chemotherapy at UCSD.

To forget what she was going through, Diana enrolled at Palomar College and Mira Costa College to take night courses in Math, Chemistry and Microbiology. Although missing classes due to the side effects of chemotherapy, Diana was still able to finish all her subjects with superior grades. One instructor commented, “She was my favorite student and I would miss her.” Diana had then gone to Health Sciences University in Pomona and to Toro University in Vallejo for Physician Assistant School acceptance interviews.

Continuing her search for cure, Diana went to City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, CA. She also went by herself to Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, braving adverse weather conditions during the winter season. Finally, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas accepted her for gene therapy, a treatment that targeted cancer cells only.

Diana always kept herself well-dressed, neat, and presentable even when going to her appointments. While waiting to see her doctor at MD Anderson, a parent of another patient approached her and asked, “Are you a model?” Still, while having lunch with her mother, a passerby came to her and said, “You’re so pretty!”

Diana would connect instantly with those whom she became acquainted and even with those she did not know. They found her to be a true and caring friend, always “offering to help with something” when they should have been helping her instead. Diana had brightened their lives and showed them how “having a good attitude can make all the difference in the world.” On Facebook, over 2 million people from all over the world were inspired by her courageous battle. They prayed for her, followed her incredible journey, and posted their love and unyielding support.

Diana and her mother, Karen, stayed at the Hospitality Apartments in Houston during her treatments at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Residents liked Diana for her congeniality, friendship, and ever-present smile “that could command anyone that came face to face with her.” Even the hospital shuttle bus driver, Jennifer, commented, “Whenever I see Diana’s smile, she makes my day! She is so special.”

Diana also enjoyed traveling and painting. She had traveled to Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, Alaska, and the Bahamas. In her paintings, which graced the walls of her bedroom, she portrayed her personality, her courage and brilliance, as well as her anger and fear.

Diana will be remembered for her courage, thoughtfulness, generosity, beautiful smile, and great love for family, relatives, friends, and sports. She was so strong, so brave, so beautiful, so special and so loved. There is no one like her.

If there was one who had strongly influenced Diana to fight cancer to the end, it was Carissa Lana Rafael – her lovely 3-year old niece, godchild, and princess, who had been the main source of her strength, joy, and inspiration during her 4-year battle.

Diana Lee Medina passed peacefully into eternal life on April 20, 2015. Church services were held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in National City. Diana was laid to rest near the Chapel of the Roses and the gravesite of her grandparents (Lolo and Lola), Fidel and Estela Del Rosario, at Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, California.

Diana leaves a legacy of love and faith, of courage and hope, and of lives touched and changed. She will be in our hearts forever.