RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Hector Venegas wrote "Hawaiian Lullaby" to cope with his daughter Krista's life-threatening illnesses.

Songwriter’s ‘Lullaby’ soothes pain of daughter’s illness

EVERY time Hector Venegas hears the song "Hawaiian Lullaby," he is reminded of his daughter, Krista.

"The song evolved from the situation of my daughter's life ... her life-threatening illness. I was extremely broken-hearted," Hector said.

He wrote the song for Krista more than 30 years ago as she recovered from a long bout of bacterial meningitis. Putting the words on paper helped him deal with an array of emotions, from fear, anger and resentment to love, he said: "I needed to turn my negative thoughts into positive ones. I wanted to see things in a different light. I didn't want to see a shrink."

Krista, now 35, works at Easter Seals as a Youth Services Program aide, giving back to the agency that offered her services as a child. She started out as a summer fun volunteer prior to taking her paid position.

Hector said he was quite the proud papa when he visited his daughter at work about 10 years ago.

"I wanted to see what she did," he said. "She was like a mother hen. She was taking care of three or four kids. She may not be nuclear physicist material, but she is the greatest baby sitter."

When Krista got sick, Hector was working as an agent and handling bookings for Peter Moon, who was collaborating with the Brothers Cazimero on an album.

"They put music to the lyrics," Hector said. "I never thought it would turn out like it did."

The song remains a favorite of U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, who often sings it at rallies. "He will sing at the drop of a hat," laughed Hector, who is grateful to honor his daughter this way.

Krista's mom, Sharon, is thankful for the Easter Seals Respite Program.

"They helped her blossom, to build her self-esteem and taught her how to ride the bus," she said.

Krista took ill as a baby and at one point was in a vegetative state. Fluid was building up between her brain and her skull.

"They had to strap her to a board to drain the fluid," Sharon said. "She had surgery on her eyes, didn't have the use of her hands, no immunity and spent lots of time at the doctor's office.

"She reached a plateau (when she was under the age of 1) where she would die or slowly pull out of it," said Sharon. "They never saw a baby fight so hard."

Krista is now helping children handle their challenges.

"Sometimes I feed them or change them," she said. "Sometimes we take walks in the courtyard or play basketball. We also go on field trips and do arts and crafts."

Hector credits the strength of family for pulling them through. "Without my wife's help, I would never have made it."

"A situation like this makes you a stronger family or splits you up," said Sharon.

Members of the Venegas family agree they are together for the long haul.

"She is my conscience," Hector said of his daughter. "She has lots of common sense."