Remembering Risha Shukla | Her Life, Legacy, and Impact

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This space was created by me, Rhea, Risha’s little sister, to honor her twenty nine years of life and share her extraordinary story because it deserves to be told.

Being Risha’s sister was the greatest gift of my life. She was the most loving, selfless, present, and deeply caring person I knew; my best friend, my safe place, and my constant. No matter what she was going through, she would drop anything for anyone in a heartbeat. She showed up fully, every time, always willing to help and led by example in the most quiet, powerful way. Everything I am is shaped by her, and everything I hope to be is because of her.

Since the age of three, Risha faced an incredibly difficult medical journey. She battled pancreatitis, type 1 diabetes, a neuroendocrine tumor, carcinoid heart disease, Stage 4 kidney failure, pituitary micro-adenoma, acute tubular necrosis, chronic metabolic acidosis, and numerous other chronic illnesses, spending most of her life in hospitals or bedridden. She endured eight major surgeries and the removal of five organs. Yet through relentless pain and complex diagnoses, her spirit remained unbroken.

Risha was known for her bravery, kindness, compassion, and determination. She always dreamed of becoming a clinical research surgeon. Even on her hardest days, she pursued her education—as a high school intern performing surgery on a pig's heart at a UCI research lab, having her name published in a scientific research paper at 16, earning acceptance to every college she applied to and attending UCLA, and later beginning physician assistant (PA) school to help others facing medical challenges.

At seven years old, Risha founded the nonprofit Kids Who Care Foundation with our parent’s help, dedicating her life to cheering up critically ill children. Her advocacy raised awareness chronic illness nationwide and taught children that you can make a difference at any age. Her story was featured in magazines and newspapers, and she received countless awards for her resilience, service, and impact.

In twenty nine years, Risha touched thousands with her courage, compassion, and unwavering drive to make a difference. This space celebrates her legacy—her writings, advocacy, achievements, and the profound impact she had on everyone around her.

From the bottom of my and my parent's hearts, thank you for being here. Our only ask is that you take the time to learn Risha’s story. She was such an inspiration, and we hope her courage, kindness, and determination inspire you to show up for others the way she did and make a difference too.

In her memory, we are committed to raising awareness and encouraging others to advocate for their loved ones. To those of you in health care, we ask to not judge a book by its cover -- take the time to read all the pages, understand the story, empathize, and connect the dots.

Click to see her medical journey

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

Making people feel seen

Risha showed up with empathy, kindness, and understanding, never making anyone feel different. Whether through the foundation or on her own, she spent countless hours with kids in hospitals, epilepsy and autism centers, to simply bring a smile and being a friend above all else.

Making a Difference

Risha turned compassion into action from a young age, leading thousands of volunteers and speaking to large audiences at schools, rotary clubs, and fundraising events, to use her voice to stand up against bullying, inspire others to give back regardless of age, advocate for their loved ones, and bring joy to critically ill children in hospitals.

Using her voice

Risha turned her own medical struggles and pain into a force for good, inspiring thousands of people to give back and make a difference in their communities.

Click to see her full impact

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Showing Up

Risha led thousands of volunteers in toy drives, food drives, disaster relief drives, and more. Not only did she help critically ill children in the hospital like herself, but also supported victims of natural disasters and mass shootings, and animals in need.

Memories

View photo gallery

Favorite Color

Ocean Blues

Little Things About Risha

Favorite Flower

Tulips

Become a Clinical Research Surgeon
Publish a book
Travel the world

Her DreamS

- Anything (and I mean anything) truffle
- Iced Passion fruit green tea with lemonade
- Starbucks "mango dragon fruit tea with foam mixed into the drink"
- Dad's famous 2am grilled cheeses
- Trader Joe's Mac N Cheese balls
- Cotton Candy Dippin Dots
- Ramen from Gokuku in LA
- Every flavor of expensive cheese

Favorite FoodS + DRINKS

- Loved to read

- Going to the beach or drives along PCH
- Incredible writer
- Phenomenal cook
- Trying new restaurants (followed by posting page long yelp reviews)
- Old school rap and classic rock
- Going to concerts with my dad
- Traveling

Passions

Listen to her Spotify playlist

- Learned to play the sitar with my dad
- Loved playing tennis

- Loved being challenged -- her eyes would light up every time she worked on a school project for herself or my mom
- Detail oriented, perfectionist, hard worker and an extraordinary passion for learning

Other Fun Facts

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