Jasmine Starr Micheaux

Jasmine was one of the most loving and caring people I have ever met. Whenever she met someone that she liked, which was often, she would immediately introduce them to us as her "Friend". It didn't matter whether she knew you for a month, or for 10 minutes; she cared about you, and wanted you to know it. She was quick to include anyone who wanted to participate in whatever activity she could find. Whether it was a board game, an art project, playing with friends online, or just hanging out, she included everyone.
When she was at home and in her room, she would spend hours drawing pictures. Every single drawing was labeled with the name of a friend or a family member. Every picture was made specifically for someone, so that she could show them how much she cared. She loved to make cards for people, and we went through countless envelopes for her to give her friends and family kind words and beautiful pictures.
As she got older, she never lost her wonderful imagination. If she could think of it, she could draw it. She saw the beauty in everything, and she filled her Aunt Chicky's phone with pictures of sunsets to prove it. Many nights we would be getting ready for dinner, and I would find myself distracted by the problems of my day. Then Jasmine would pull me from my troubles to enjoy a pastel sky, backlit by the setting sun. Those quiet minutes spent enjoying the sky, trying to explain why the sunset made the colors change, were some of the best distractions from my everyday troubles.
When I look back on the time we were allowed to have with Jasmine, I am thankful for the person that she has helped me to become. She helped to make me more patient, more caring, more responsible, and more ambitious. Instead of spending my life figuring out how to get by, she forced me to look ahead to a brighter future. Much of my time was spent thinking about the future, thinking of what I could do to make Jasmine's dreams come true.
Jasmine was one of the strongest and most resilient people I have ever known. Her whole life was beset by the difficulties and challenges brought on by her medical issues. From dealing with surgeries to dealing with diabetes, Jasmine took every setback in stride and smiled through every procedure she was forced to endure. With all the time she spent in hospitals and doctors' offices, she learned to love and appreciate all the people that helped her along the way. So much so that she wanted to become a medical practitioner when she grew up. She wanted to be on the other side of the surgeries, to help others that were going through some of the toughest trials in their lives. In the meantime, as she continued High school, she wanted to volunteer at Posability so that she could help make a difference in the lives of other kids. She saw firsthand how much the volunteers at Posability made her life better and wanted to emulate their kindness and love.
She cared deeply for everyone around her, she never wanted anyone else to feel pain or be left out. She went out of her way to show every person she knew how much she cared for and loved them.
Instead of being angry or saddened by how short the time we had with Jasmine was, I am infinitely grateful for the love and Joy she gave to us. I am thankful for every smile, every side-eyed smirk, and every single laugh that I was lucky enough to be a part of. Not a day will go by that I will not look back and smile at the Joy she brought to us, and to everyone around her.