7-Year-Old Boy Succumbs to Cancer

Seven-year-old Christian Garcia, whose battle with brain cancer touched off widespread community support, died Monday evening at his Ventura home.

Christian, who suffered from an inoperable brain tumor, had been sleeping in his parents’ bed most of the day Monday and stopped breathing shortly after 6 p.m.

His mother, Maria Garcia, said she is very sad but also relieved that her son isn’t suffering anymore. “I am very calm because I know he is resting now,” she said Tuesday.

Christian was diagnosed in March with the tumor and underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment before doctors told the family in October there wasn’t anything more they could do for the boy.

Since then, Christian has been receiving hospice care, with nurses visiting daily to check on him and to give him medication. During Christian’s last weekend, Manuel and Maria Garcia took turns holding their son on the couch, next to the family Christmas tree that Christian had picked out.

The Garcia family lives in Cabrillo Village on the east end of Ventura. Neighbors and friends have raised money for the family, and have brought them food and toys. The Garcias have three other children, Nidia, 22, Jose Manuel Junior, 17, and Karina, 4.

A rosary will be said at 7 tonight in the church at Cabrillo Village, 1515 S. Saticoy Ave., and a funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday at Sacred Heart Church, 10800 Henderson Road in Ventura.

Christian will be buried at Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard.

Contributions to the Garcia family can be made to the Christian Garcia Memorial Fund in care of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust at 250 S. Mills Road, Ventura, CA 93003. The number for information is 650-6402.