Lourdes Mendieta

Lourdes Mendieta, 1 month, born on March 22, 2023, in Hollywood, CA, United States, passed away April 30, 2023. She resided in Whittier, CA at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, CA.

Lourdes is loved by so many. While Lourdes was with us, she gave us many gifts like showing us the meaning of unconditional love, she reminded us of the power of support of family and friends, and she brought us closer to God.

Manny and I were with her every day of her life. We watched her overcome obstacle after obstacle. Her amazing nurses would tell us that the length of time that she fought is impressive as her condition was always severe. She was 5 weeks and 4 days old when she passed and she came very close to death on many occasions. Her doctors informed us that she was very sick with her lungs being so sensitive, and a number of things would cause her to pass at any moment in her second week of life. Her sister Montse got to meet her 2 times and she left a toy out of place for sister to play with. She was a fighter but in the end her little body just got too tired to continue to fight.

In her memory, I would like to shed light on her disorder. I posted about it on my facebook page. She was diagnosed with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)at my 20 week ultrasound. We were devastated, but were hopeful that she would beat it. CDH occurs in one in 2,500 fetuses and is not preventable. We did no do anything to cause it and it is not hereditary. However, there is not enough research or expertise in it and it is a very tricky disorder to treat. In Lourdes' case, she had a about 46% chance of survival but she was at the best hospital because she was so sick. Doctors, and surgeons alike were frustrated with her condition as she was not making progress and she was not getting worse either. When she passed she was not showing signs of deterioration nor was she battling something else like an infection. It was a typical day of her, which was her heart and lungs working hard to stay alive. It has been agnoizing pain for us to lose her and pray for all of the families who have been through loss. Please share her story and sign the petition on my facebook page. There has to be a better way for these babies.