Remembering
Risha Shukla
1996 –2026
This space was created by me, Rhea, Risha’s little sister, to honor her twenty nine years of life and to share her extraordinary story, because her story deserves to be told.
From early childhood, Risha faced an immensely difficult medical journey, spending majority of her life in and out of hospitals or bedridden. Over the years she endured eight major surgeries, the removal of five organs, and navigated a lengthy list of rare and complex diagnoses. Most recently, she had been diagnosed with carcinoid heart disease and ultimately passed from a sudden cardiac arrest. Yet despite a lifetime of debilitating pain and relentless medical challenges, Risha’s spirit remained remarkably strong.
Risha was known for her extraordinary bravery, kindness, compassion, and unwavering determination to help others. Even during her hardest days, she continued to pursue her education, earning acceptance to every college she applied to before choosing to attend UCLA, and later beginning physician assistant school as she worked toward a future helping patients like herself. Her advocacy and voice brought awareness to rare diseases and chronic illness.
Despite the many years she spent in hospitals, Risha filled her life with purpose. At just seven years old she founded the nonprofit foundation Kids Who Care with the help of our parents, dedicated to helping others facing medical hardship. Her story and advocacy were featured in newspapers numerous times, and her writing was published in books and magazines. Over the years she received countless awards across the country for her advocacy, resilience, and service.
In her twenty nine years, Risha touched thousands upon thousands of lives with her strength, compassion, and determination to make a difference.
This space was created to honor Risha’s legacy and to share her inspiring journey, including her writings, advocacy, accomplishments, and the profound impact she had on those around her.
Thank you for being here. My hope is that you take the time to learn about Risha, share her story, and help inspire as many people as possible through the courage, compassion, and strength she carried throughout her life.
About Risha
AN ODE TO MY “PUMPKIN”
Sunlight filters thru the pane,
Snow glistening on the plain,
Morning in Minnesota… again,
Morphine kicks in, ease the pain.
White-coats march in, blah, blah, blah,
Nurses swarm in, rah, rah, rah!
Grimacing, half-awake, bleary-eyed,
Tubes tangling, streaming from her side,
Liquid gold, gurgling within,
Mechanically surging under her skin.
Poking, prodding, pricking, pressing,
Pushing, prying, probing… phew!
Hunger, Pain, Nausea,
Intense, Intolerable,
Unwelcome companions.
An endless nameless stream they come, one and all,
And yet she smiles—unyielding, unflinching… standing tall.
— DAD :)
Written Jan. 2012 after Risha’s second auto-islet cell transplant surgery in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Favorite Color
Ocean Blues
Little Things About Risha
Some of her favorites and quirks that made her so special
Favorite Flower
Tulips
Her DreamS
Become a Clinical Research Surgeon
Publish a book
Travel the world
Favorite FoodS + DRINKS
Anything (and I mean anything) truffle
Iced Passion fruit green tea with lemonade
Starbucks order.. and I quote "mango dragon fruit drink with foam mixed into the drink"
Dad's famous 2am grilled cheeses
Mac N Cheese Trader Joe's balls
Cotton Candy Dippin Dots
Ramen from Gokuku Vegan Ramen, LA
Dahi puri
Passions
Loved to read
Incredible writer
Cooking
Trying new resturaunts followed by page long yelp reviews after
old school rap and classic rock
Live concerts
Netflix
Traveling
Other Fun Facts
Played the sitar
Played tennis in high school
Detail oriented, perfectionist, hard worker and an extraordinary passion for learning
We invite you to share stories or messages in Risha's memory. Your contributions help keep her light shining bright for all of us.