Kristin Elizabeth Kruska

Kristin grew up and attended school in this suburb outside of Los Angeles.

When Kristin was born, something wasn’t right, she was cyanotic (bluish) and I noticed there seemed to be something different about her, she was tended to immediately by the hospitals doctors and nurses, I was a mess and wasn’t able to start the bonding process with her like I did with my first baby.

Later that day, I was given the worst news, Kristin had a cardiac issue and was going to be transported to UCLA hospital in Westwood immediately. In addition, I was also given the most unexpected news, Kristin had Down Syndrome, I thought no… I can’t have a less than perfect child, but let me tell you how wrong I was, Kristin was an angel in human form and she was such a blessing in my life.

Kristin had been born with Congenital Heart Disease, and she had open heart surgery at 2 days old, she had a hole in her heart and was never a candidate for the “Fontan” surgery to have this hole fully repaired. Over the years, Kristin had many hospitalizations, surgeries, medical diagnosis’s and challenges, but she always beat the odds, I think at times, even her doctors were in awww of her.

Kristin loved her family, she loved her dogs and she enjoyed her time in school. Kristin was pure, she never did anything bad in this world and she never ever complained, she was just the best human.

Kristin was the strongest person I have ever known and she was a fighter. With all her trials and tribulations she never gave up, she truly loved her life, but year after year, Kristin’s health declined.

Kristin made an impact on everyone she met, and she was loved by many, she was funny, silly, feisty and at times, frustrating.

There is a tremendous void in our lives and Kristin will be dearly missed, we think about her all the time and we try to move forward in a world without Kristin in it, this still doesn’t seem real. Emotions are high, with grief, sadness, anger, loss, confusion (why Kris?) and most of all love.

I will be forever grateful that I had 28 wonderful years with Kristin and it was such a pleasure being her mom.

Kristin taught us many things in her short life, one being the value of time.

Kristin is at peace now, her heart is whole and she is in no more pain.

Rest now, my special girl.