Lexi's eulogy and life verse: Psalm 139:13-16

Below is the eulogy that we wrote about Lexi and that was read at her memorial service.  I'm posting it here for those who weren't at the memorial service or who didn't know Lexi or her life story. It is a testament to God's unique design of Lexi, the impact that she had in her short 6 years of life and to the life verse that we claimed for her:

Psalm 139: 13-16

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

Lexi Noelle Valladares was born on April 16, 2004 in Torrance, CA. Her parents, Fausto and Erica, and big sister Chelsea were thrilled when she arrived.  She was our “little lady” and the FECL Fam was now complete. 

Lexi began having seizures when she was six weeks old.  Although she tried almost every seizure medicine available, endured the Ketogenic diet, was hospitalized many times, and had a Vagus Nerve Stimulator implanted, these seizures could never be controlled.  Unfortunately this affected her development greatly.  Fitted with a customized wheelchair at age three, she was able to attend preschool for two years and had just completed kindergarten at Willenberg Special Education School in San Pedro.  At age five she began to lose the ability to swallow and with her low weight a great concern, a feeding tube was placed in her stomach.  As a result, she gained lots of weight and really thrived, making greater eye contact and interacting more with the world around her.  In February 2010, after nearly six years of searching, we finally learned that she had a genetic condition called CDKL5, a condition discovered in 2004 that has about only 200 cases reported worldwide. Our little lady was indeed special!

Although she never learned to walk, sit up on her own, crawl or feed herself, she was an amazing little girl with a sweet spirit about her and people were drawn to her.  She said very few words in her six years with us, but she was always able to communicate with us.  She used her legs and feet a lot to communicate. She often kicked whatever or whomever was nearby her.  She loved to roll around the floor, kicking whatever was in her path, as she deliberately made her way to her desired destination.  Lexi loved to cuddle with anyone and also loved to have her feet rubbed.  Lexi delighted in sharing a room with her big sister Chelsea for the past year and a half.  Lexi enjoyed music, whether at home or at church.  Lexi was a very easy-going, content little lady. She rarely cried or fussed and she went along wherever we went, joining us in the pool in Palm Desert, with family in San Diego, at family gatherings, Disneyland, and two trips to Hawaii.

Lexi brought so much to our home.  She brought an unexplainable peace and an everlasting joy.  It was the simple things she did that brought us such joy: smiling when Chelsea tickled her, waving her little fingers at us, watching her kick the ball over and over again as we rolled it to her on Christmas morning, or hearing her little squeaks that earned her the nickname “Pipsqueak” or just “Pip” for short.  She was also quite mischievous, often trying to trip us when we walked by her.  One time, she even destroyed a game that big sis and mom were playing- kicking the pieces all across the living room floor when we had turned our backs for just one minute.  We were sure she was telling us that she didn’t like that she wasn’t playing the game.  She grew us each in ways that only made us better- teaching us about ourselves, what it means to be a family and drawing us closer to God.  But more than anything she brought us love- it is the greatest gift that she gave us and that we could give her.  She taught us what it means to love unconditionally and with your whole heart.  It was in our moments of solitude with her, while holding her, that the peace, joy and love all came together as one.

Lexi was very loved by family, relatives, friends and her doctors. Thank you to all of you who loved our “little lady” Lexi.