Reuvén García

Reuvén Juan Aloysius García came into the world with an unexpected start. His name (chosen before he was born) means “Behold, God has graciously given us a warrior son” and a warrior he was. Reuvén experienced a brain injury at birth and his first 1.5 years of life were harrowing for us (his parents) as we experienced the constant fear of sudden loss or emergency. While this season was saturated with unknowns, we were profoundly supported by God’s promises for Reuvén. The love and care of our Heavenly Father was unmistakable over the course of Reuvén’s life, and God used him to impact and bless many.

Reuvén’s medical complexity meant that little was known about the capacities he would have in life and his life expectancy; as he developed we discovered that the greatest and most incredible gift he had to offer the world was his show-stopping, heavenly-glow smile. Reuvén experienced more pain in his 4.5 years than anyone should experience in a lifetime, but the joy that he exuded was beyond comprehension. Some of our favorite things about Reuvén were his huge brown eyes, glorious hair, chunky good cheeks, and incredible smile - the cuteness was too much to handle. His smile beamed forward in the face of suffering and melted the hearts of anyone who beheld it. And for those who opened their hearts to him, they were met with the deepest love and the most pure and humbling experience of joy in his very presence.

Reuvén was wild about snuggles and loved being held, but he loved being played with the most. He was a rough and tumble kiddo who wanted to be bounced and moved, he smiled the biggest when his siblings jumped on him and tussled with him. He loved to go on adventures which included trips to visit family in Illinois and California, visits to various beach towns in Michigan, and all over Grand Rapids including John Ball Park which was his favorite place for walks (Save John Ball Park!). We were even crazy/dedicated enough to take all three kids swimming at the YMCA pool in the winter, which fellow parents of littles will recognize as a major parental feat. For the last 2.5 years of his life, Reuvén was immensely stable. We got to the point of few medical appointments, no emergencies, and enjoyed a beautiful rhythm of nurturing our small and sweet family.

Reuvén was immensely loved by his teachers and therapists at Godwin Heights Early Childhood Center. One of our major joys in Reuvén’s life was seeing his school team fall in love with him and champion him and his progress. We will always cherish his amazing team including Brian, Paula, Katie, Shannon, Kathy, and Deb and many others who contributed to his vibrant school experience.

Our firm belief in God’s desire for Reuvén’s healing is unwavering. While we did not behold the healing we imagined on Earth, we know that God powerfully brought the joy and love of His Kingdom to the earth through the life of our son. While we would never say that Reuvén was sent simply to teach us lessons, we recognize that God used him to grow us and lead us in countless ways. Reuvén’s life purpose was the same as everyone else’s - to represent the image of God, to love and be loved by God and others, and to experience the belonging of God. He was our greatest joy, our very heart, our sweet Reuvény. We will always be head over heels in love with him. He is dearly missed by his papa Juan, mama Emma, sister Esperanza, brother Avrem, Grandma Janis, Grandpa Patrick, Nana Noemi, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, neighbors, and extended family.

Information about Reuvén’s Celebration of Life to follow.