This memorial website was created to honor the memory of our beloved son and brother, Eddy Vargas who was born in El Paso, Texas on September 12, 1988 and went to heaven on July 20, 2005 at the age of 16. We will remember him forever.

Eddy was the light of our lives, now he lights up the heavens.
We'll Love and Miss You Eddy Always and Forever!!! 

The green ribbon symbolizes the continuation of life that is organ and tissue donation. Eddy decided to be an organ donor. He always helped people, even if he didn't know them, he had a big heart, and he gave the ultimate gift in his death. The Gift Of Life.

Thanks to the Trevizo Kids.

A Mothers Pain

You see me smiling.
What you don't see is that I am screaming behind that smile .
You see me go on with
everything....work....groceries.....life in general.
What you don't see is that it takes every ounce of energy
I have just to breathe.
You see me alone with my thoughts.
What you don't see is me talking to Him
You see me say "I am fine".
What you don't see is the huge hole in my heart that can never be filled.
You see me and think "she's back to normal".
What you don't see is that there is no normal for me anymore. You see me and think "Oh my God I hope this never happens to me"
What you don't see is that as much as I long for you to
understand me... I hope this never happens to you either.
You see me joking and laughing with others and think she
must be getting over what has happened.
What you don't see is that I can never forget, nor would I want to, you don't get over the loss of a child.
You see me sad and don't know what to say so you keep going.
What you don't see is all I really want is for you to ask how I am doing, really, and give me a hug.
You see that life goes on.
What you don't see is on July 20, 2005 that the life I had will never be the same .
You see that I am strong...... do not be deceived.
What you don't see is that I am weak and weary. Some days "I am 6 feet from the edge".
What you see is a mask....a lie. The mask helps you cope with me and me cope with myself.
What you don't see is the raw sometimes unbearable pain.
You don't see me being unable to breathe.
What you don't see is my despair. You don't see me screaming to heaven for God to give my son back.
What you don't see you could never understand anyway unless you walk a mile in my shoes.... God Forbid. 










My son was a good kid in the wrong place at the wrong time.

One Saturday night in July, as he went around the corner to get ice cream, he was assaulted by teenage gang members, they allegedly confronted Eddy and asked for gold chains and earrings.

He was hit near the eyebrow, with the butt of a gun. He fell, struck his head and was knocked unconscious. (This happened in Juarez, Mexico)

He died of head injuries three days later. He was declared brain dead. My husband and I were asked on that terrible day if we would consider donating some of Eddy's organs, we didn't hesitate. We didn't need to speak about it, because we know what Eddy's wanted.

One day Eddy was watching the movie John Q about a father fighting for a heart transplant for his son.My husband asked Eddy what he thought about it, and he said he would like to be a donor. He had a very big heart.

I weep for my son who should never have died so young, but I applaud his spirit. And I cry tears of joy for the people who live because of him.

Although his life was cut short, I believe Eddy's spirit live on in those people, as well as in the people who knew and loved him. To loss a child it's the hardest thing you could go through, but we look forward to another day, knowing we have each other, a wonderful daughter, to kiss each day and a son in heaven, we will see again, someday.

We know God has a plan for all of us, He knows what He is doing. We will never know why we lost Eddy. We just have to believe God knew what He is doing. We miss Eddy everyday.






And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and their shall be no more death,
neither sorrow or crying,
neither shall there be any more pain:
For the former things are passed away.
Rev. 21:4 

THE BROKEN CHAIN


We little knew that morning that God was going to call your name,

In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone,

For part of us went with you, the day God called you home.

You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide,

And though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same,

But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

--Author Unknown 
  

There is a family who misses you
And finds time long since you went.
We think of you daily and hourly,
But try to be brave and content.
Tears that we shed are in silence,
And we breath a sigh of regret,
For you were ours, and we remember,
Though all the world forget.

(article from the local newspaper)

He Had a Very Big Heart
Lenny Jurado and Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times

Standing 6 feet 3 inches, El Paso High School basketball player Eddy Vargas was big on the court, but his caring personality stood taller, family and friends said Wednesday.

"He had a very big heart. He liked to help people," Eddy's mother, Cristina Vargas, said.

Eddy Vargas, 16, suffered a fatal head injury when he was assaulted, family members say, by teenage gang members Saturday night in Juárez around the corner from his parents' home. Vargas, who was born in El Paso and lived with his grandparents here, was known to give some of his clothes and toys to the children of his parents' neighborhood in Juárez, family said.

Eddy was declared brain-dead Tuesday at Thomason Hospital. He was taken off life support Wednesday afternoon after surgery to remove four organs for donation.

"Todo mundo en Juárez el queria ayudar," Juan Manuel Vargas said, describing his only son's desire to help the "entire world" in Juárez. The couple also have a 13-year-old daughter, Brenda.

"I'll be right back," Eddy Vargas told his parents Saturday night as he walked out with a few buddies to get ice cream around the corner from his parents' home.

Gang members allegedly confronted Eddy Vargas and asked for gold chains and earrings, his family said. "Que barrio? (What neighborhood?)," the gang members reportedly asked him.

Vargas was hit near the eyebrow, possibly with the butt of a gun, his mother said. He fell, struck his head and was knocked unconscious.

The 16-year-old alleged gang member has been identified by Juárez police, but his entire family appeared to have moved out of town when police tried to arrest him at his home Tuesday, Juan Vargas said he was told by police.

Eddy Vargas was transferred to Thomason Hospital, and loved ones were optimistic he would survive. Though unconscious much of the time, he was able to recognize his longtime girlfriend, Allison Mora.

"The last time I talked with him (Sunday), I told him I'd come back at 8 o'clock (Monday morning) to see him. He said, 'OK, I love you. Bye,' " Mora said.

Friends and teammates gathered at Mora's house Wednesday, remembering a youth who was enamored of his Euro-style Mitsubishi Eclipse and loved basketball almost as much as he loved his girlfriend.

"This was a big surprise for all of us," said Freddy Dominguez, a friend from Vargas' car club, Team Dynamic. "I didn't think something like this would happen to Eddy. He was a really nice guy who always stayed out of trouble."

Vargas was known for his smile, which seemed fixed no matter what the circumstances, whether it was hugging his girlfriend of 2 1/2 years or running extra laps during basketball practice.

As a basketball player, Vargas was a rarity at El Paso High School. "El Grande." He was one of the school's tallest students, and he was talented enough to earn a varsity spot as a freshman.

A Philadelphia 76ers fan, Vargas dreamed of playing at the University of North Carolina and making it to the NBA.

To El Paso High School varsity boys basketball coach Mark Reynolds, Vargas was "off-the-chart gold."

"I had upperclassmen who looked up to him. Eddy strived to do better and worked and had fun. He had fun with life and knew that life was for a purpose -- to give. He even had a talk with his dad a week before this happened and said he'd be happy to donate his organs," Reynolds said.

Teammates were quick to recognize Vargas' concern for others.

"When we were losing, he'd get us to play," teammate Eric Saenz, a senior, said. "We'd argue amongst each other, but he'd never get mad. He was the heart of the team."

It was that compassion that packed the Thomason Hospital lobby with what seemed like all of El Paso.

"There were a lot of kids at the hospital, and they were there for three days," said DJ Mora, Allison's mother. "There were parents, kids, coaches... there were so many people there that many of them had to sit on the floor.

Added Reynolds, who said he lived at Thomason for three days, "It was evident how many lives he touched. It was amazing."

Although Vargas' passing was a tragedy, his friends hope a positive message can be learned from his death.

"I think we're going to get something good out of this," said Tiger basketball player Aaron Ponce, a senior. "It's going to help us all out. All these years we've been playing together and we're always fighting with each other, but I think this will give us more respect for each another and our opinions. We're going to do the best we can this upcoming season for him.

We're going to try to win a championship for him. That's what he always wanted, to win one championship."

Appreciating life, Mora said, would be the perfect way to honor a boy who was never caught frowning.

"I hope this is a big eye-opener for kids who think it can't happen to them," she said.

"For me, saying goodbye to him then not seeing him anymore ... it opens your eyes. It shows you how precious life is and how quickly it can leave."

Cristina Vargas said she feels a sense of comfort that her son was able to help others even in death.

"I never felt anger against" the attackers, she said calmly. "I knew God had a plan. ... When (Eddy) was born, the nurse told me, 'This boy will be somebody special.' I have always remembered that and now I understand." 

   
     
           


Eddy always was so proud to be tiger.

 His favorite music..

 His favorite food....

His favorite brands...

His car...

 

             They say there is a reason, 
           
          They say that time will heal, 
          
          But neither time nor reason, 
          
          Will change the way we feel, 
          
          For no-one knows the heartache, 
          
          That lies behind our smiles, 
           
          No-one knows how many times, 
          
          We have broken down and cried, 
          
          We want to tell you something, 
          
          So there won't be any doubt, 
          
          You're so wonderful to think of, 
          
          But so hard to be without 





               Only The Best                 

       A heart of gold stopped beating, 
       two shining eyes at rest,
       God broke our hearts to prove, 
       He only takes the best.
                      
       God knows you had to leave us, 
       but you did not go alone, 
       for part of us went with you, 
       the day He took you home. 

       To some you are forgotten, 
       to others just part of the past, 
       but to us who loved and lost you, 
       the memory will always last. 

              

           A DAD'S GRIEF 

              It must be very difficult
              to be a man in grief
              since men don't cry and men are strong
              no tears can bring relief.

              It must be very difficult
              to stand up to the test
              and take the calls and visitors
              so she can get some rest

             They always ask if she's all right 
             and what she's going through 
             but seldom take his hand and ask
            "My friend, but how are you?"

             He hears her crying in the night
             and thinks his heart will break
             he dries her tears and comforts her
             but stays strong for her sake 

    It must be very difficult to start each day anew
             and try to be so very brave
             He lost his baby too.
                                            -Anonymous- 




             
Eddy's Dad Tatoo. 

             
         

Eddy is also remembered in the followed sites: 

http://www.angelfire.com/nc2/treasuredthoughts/memorials5.html#EddyVargas

http://www.rememberingourangels.piczo.com/?cr=4&rfm=y

http://angelsforlauren.com/wall11.html

http://moms.memorial-of-love.net/momsrm2xx.html

http://www.we-remember-them.com/showdata.php?section=3 

 SAFELY HOME
             
             I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
             Oh, so happy and so bright!
             There is perfect joy and beauty
             In this everlasting light.

             All the pain and grief is over,
             Every restless tossing passed;
             I am now at peace forever, 
             Safely home in Heaven at last.

             Did you wonder I so calmly
             Trod the valley of the shade?
             Oh! but Jesus'love illumined
             Every dark and fearful glade.

             And He came Himself to meet me
             In that way so hard to tread;
             And with Jesus'arm to lean on,
             Could I have one doubt or dread?

             Then you must not grieve so sorely, 
             For I love you dearly still:
             Try to look beyond earth's shadows,
             Pray to trust our Father's Will.

             There is work still waiting for you,
             So you must not idly stand;
             Do it now, while life remaineth-
             You shall rest in Jesus'land.

             When that work is all completed,
             He will gently call you Home;
             Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
             Oh, the joy to see you come!
  

                                               











"Yet those who wait for the Lord 

will gain new strength; 

they will mount up with wings 

like eagles,they will run and not 

get tired, they will walk and 

not become weary. 
                                    --Isaiah 40:31 

Dear God, thank you for all the memories I have of my Eddy, sometimes I'm so angry, so sad, feel so alone, my faith is not so strong, and every day I ask why ?
I know you understand my pain. You're a God of Love.
For now I can't understand, please forgive me and please take care of my baby until we meet again, you know how much I love him, how much I miss him and how much I need him. Please give him a big hug and a big kiss for me.
Thank you my God.

Eddy, you'll always be my baby, MI NIÑO PRECIOSO.
Forever your mom. 

Oh God, let this flame kindle in me the
          assurance of your presence, let it warm
          my soul so that I might find courage, 
          strength and hope in each hour that you 
          walk with me. 
          Fill me with your light and guide Eddy to
          that light eternal.
                              Amen. 








   
  


      




PRECIOUS CHILD

Words and Music by Karen Taylor-Good

In my dreams, you are alive and well
Precious child, precious child
In my mind, I see you clear as a bell
Precious child, precious child
In my soul, there is a hole
That can never be filled
But in my heart, there is hope
'Cause you are with me still

In my heart, you live on
Always there never gone
Precious child, you left too soon
Tho' it may be true that we're apart
You will live forever... in my heart

In my plans, I was the first to leave
Precious child, precious child
But in this world, I was left here to grieve
Precious child, my precious child

In my soul, there is a hole
That can never be filled
But in my heart there is hope
And you are with me still

In my heart you live on
Always there, never gone
Precious child, you left too soon,
Tho' it may be true that we're apart
You will live forever... in my heart

God knows I want to hold you,
See you, touch you
And maybe there's a heaven
And someday I will again
Please know you are not forgotten until then 

In my heart you live on
Always there never gone
Precious child, you left too soon
Tho' it may be true that we're apart
You will live forever... in my heart