Ada E.Durairaj Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Ada Durairaj: Life and Legacy Last Friday evening, September 6, 2019, San Diego tragically lost Ada Elder Durairaj to congestive heart failure. She was just two years, seven months of age. Born three months early on January 25, 2017, Ada spent the majority of her life at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Ada had a complex congenital heart defect which required several surgeries to repair. Ada was not expected to survive infancy, but she went on to beat the odds, to the profound joy of all who knew her. Many clinicians in three different hospitals were essential to Ada’s survival and, later, her wellbeing. Her family wants to specifically acknowledge the dedication of Dr. John Nigro, who accepted Ada as a surgical candidate in spite of the risks, and Dr. Howaida El-Said, who was Ada’s greatest advocate. Ada was adored by her devoted parents, Amialya and Prem Durairaj as well as her twin sister Ramona. Her life was enriched by the love of grandparents, family, and friends who regularly visited. Ada will be greatly missed by clinicians and administrators at the Helen Bernardy Center, pulmonary unit, as well as the cardiovascular, neonatal, and pediatric ICUs. Despite her rough road, Ada was an exceptionally cheerful and charismatic child. She was known for her curly, brown mop of hair that was always playfully askew. Ada’s brown eyes shined with warmth and crinkled when she smiled, which she often did. She loved to laugh and stick her tongue out when she thought something was particularly funny. Ada enjoyed listening to and making music, books (especially “Where the Wild Things Are” when enacted by her dad), garden strolls, learning sign language, snuggling, and playing with her twin sister. She hated having her teeth brushed, but her mom still did it anyway. (And Ada always seemed to forgive her.) Ada’s favorite word to sign was “more,” which she regularly used to express her delight. She taught the people around her to appreciate life in the moment, to savor the simple things, and to hold relationships dear. While her death was tragic, her family is comforted by the fact that Ada sincerely enjoyed her short time on earth and made the most of every minute. To honor her memory, Ada’s family and friends are establishing an endowment in her name. This endowment will fund future research at Rady Children’s Hospital Heart Institute. All donations are tax deductible.

Ada E.Durairaj

January 25, 2017 - September 6, 2019