Support Jamicaa Green's Memorial and Cremation

Hello all,

This fundraiser is to help with memorial and cremation services for my cousin Jamicaa Green. Her service will be next week on September 19th; the goal I set for this fundraiser is to help pay for an urn, keepsake urns, flowers, etc. Our family appreciates your gesture whether this is shared, if you contribute, and or leave a simple condolence, story, or virtual hug. I know we are all hanging on by the skin of our teeth, but any little bit helps. Her service will be small but available via zoom- once I get the deets, I will share them if I'm permitted.

A little backstory- Once upon a time, Jamicaa was fondly known by the name Giggles; well, that's what I called her. She has had that nickname ever since our Goldenview Middle School days (she was in 8th grade and I 7th). I'm not sure why I started calling her Giggles, but it stuck. We would write each other notes and exchange them during our 5 minute passing between classes- she would sign her's "Giggle$." I loved my cousin, she was basically a sister to me. We were tight and were with each other everyday for years, living our best teenage to 21+ lives; just having a good ole time! Some of the best memories and photos from those days. Some crazy ones too (if you know, you know)!

Fast forward several years...

While some of you may be aware, others may not, Giggles had been diagnosed with Huntington's Disease (HD) back when she was a young 25 years old. UCLA told her "she was the youngest adult in America" with the genetic illness; Mic, another nickname most of our family called her, was nice with the razzle dazzle but she was indeed very young considering how soon her onset was. Older research I've read/studied, most adults were either never diagnosed and pass away of something else (her mother passed of breast cancer complications in 1997, but she mostly had HD also) or their onset/diagnosis was later in life around 45-50; that was maybe 15-20 years ago though. She was having symptoms as early as age 23 and confided in me that she was having trouble holding a plate- HD also comes with chorea (pronounced like Korea), an involuntary movement disorder. She didn't let that stop her from having fun though; in fact, we were in the parking lot of Chilkoot Charlie's right after the club let out when she told me! It makes me laugh because we had just finished dancing, were sweaty, she was talking about an after party at my mom's house, then drops that on me in the same breath. Such a terror. LOL

More fast forwarding- like 8x fast...

Just six weeks shy of her 41st birthday, Jamicaa passed away on September 5th, 2024. Although I cried myself in to a headache, I've also been laughing with different family members thinking back to our shenanigans. Even with her very premature diagnosis, Giggles still enjoyed her life. Just before her symptoms upended her carefree world, she loved going out to dance (*cough* Koots *cough), hanging with close friends, indulging in her favorite pass time (if you know you know), and doing what she pleased while she was still capable of doing it! She was always spontaneous, notorious for getting in to mischief (used to get us in trouble a lot LOL), and was always down for a good time. An intelligent mind, she would skip a grade or two in school. She had the option to skip three grades at some point but there wasn't an urgency to rush things- I know for sure she skipped at least one grade; maybe more razzle dazzle but she was legit smart, regardless. As HD ran its course on Jamicaa's livelihood, she would eventually become bed bound. The anxiety she had from the fear of possibly falling was too much for her and she preferred to remain seated or supine. Despite it all, even in her last years, she still liked her rap/alternative/rock music, CBD pen (it also helped with her seizures), and trying to get others in to mischief when she had a visitor. I'm going to miss her; I'm saddened by her passing, but am grateful we exchanged I love you's months before September 5th.

Best,

Q