Letters to Juliana

Jesus Peña and Patricia Watson , at the age of 2 in February after a 10-month fight with childhood cancer neuroblastoma. Since then, they have been keeping her memory alive on their Facebook page and website and are working toward starting a foundation in her name to fight the disease.

Peña and Watson have given South San Francisco Patch permission to reprint the daily messages they write to Juliana on Facebook in a regular column:

Tuesday, May 22

Goodnight Cita!! I miss you so much!! Wow, so did you like yesterday? I know you did. Did you see all the people there for you? It was truley amazing to see that many people out there. When I walked back to the parking lot I looked back towards were everyone was and I had a moment to myself because just looking from afar I could see everyone and I knew they were there for you!! These last few weeks have been really emotionaly draining, with Mother's Day and your Birthday!! Mommy and I were very sad yesterday (we're sad everyday) but know Cita that I took comfort in knowing that everything went well yesterday!! I so nervous about the whole thing, I didn't want anything to go wrong!! I wanted it perfect for you and it was!! I started to panic when Mommy and I couldn't get our Lantern up but I should've knowen not to because I know you were there helping us!! I hope you heard everyone cheering and screaming your name each time a Lantern went up! It was diffitcult with the wind but once they started going up they were beautiful!! Someone told us that they counted 32 total, the rest of them were learning experience's that didn't make it in the air, lol. Thank you for making the weather good for us when it was time to do the Lanterns because when Mommy and I got there it was cold, wet and windy but then it was calm at Lantern time! Did you see everyone Party Rocking for you? Everyone there had there hand up in the air for you, "Get Up, Get Down, Put Your Hand Up To The Sun"! You know what that was, I called everyone "Cita's Party Rock Crew"!

3 years ago on May 21st at 9:02pm the best thing happened to me!! That best thing is you Cita!! You changed my life forever that day! You changed my life 3 times in your short life, first when you were born 5-21-09, second when you were diagnosed with cancer 4-8-11 and the third (which I wish never happened) was when you took your last breath 2-24-12! There's one thing I hope you never forget and that is You Are, You Have and You will always be the best thing that ever happened to me!! I hope you liked yesterday!!
I Love You So Much!! - Daddy

For more information about Juliana and neuroblastoma, visit Juliana's Journey on Facebook and online.