City of Indio creates new mural in honor of young local who battled cancer

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Indio is honoring the life and legacy of Desirae "Desi" Ava Grace Cechin with two murals on Civic Center Drive.

Indio is calling them the "Desi Memorial Mural," and planned the project over two years ago. The artwork is in collaboration with Loma Linda University's Children Health, Desi's parents and artist Patrick Barwinski.

Cechin, a young girl from Indio, battled Stage IV High-Risk Neuroblastoma cancer for two years. She was diagnosed on April 15, 2014 and died March 16, 2016. Nearly nine years after her death, Indio and Barwinski finally started painting the murals.

He said the project was delayed because of the city hall construction in the area, but he's more than ready to get started. When the plan was originally made, Barwinski met with Desi's parents, Terry Cechin and Laura Palada, to talk about their daughter.

"A lot of the information that her mom gave me specifically was [Desi] liked to dance, she liked to sing, she was just very energetic," Barwinski said. "And that's why you have these bright colors of yellow, bright blue and orange."

Barwinski hopes to capture Desi's essence, spirit and soul through how her parents described her.

"I personally did not get to meet Desi in person," Barwinski said. "It's a highlight in my career, probably, if not the most important project I've had up to date as being an artist."

Having artwork to show Desi's spirit is beyond important to her parents. Terry Cechin, her father, said he is grateful to the City of Indio, Loma Linda and Barwinski for putting this together.

"I'm very grateful that the community continues, even nine years later, to find ways to bring up her name and talk about her," Cechin said.

A legacy he hopes touches the lives of many as they walk by the mural.

"As a parent, losing a child is one of the worst things you can experience, if not the worst thing," Cechin said. "So you never want them to be forgotten."

With the murals on the outside walls of the Loma Linda University Children's Health building, Barwinski and Cechin want the art to be a symbol of hope for any child battling cancer or going through treatment.

"I just want them to be able to come out here and maybe for a second, this will take their mind off what's going on," Barwinski said.

Cechin's parents started the Desi Strong Foundation non-profit in Palm Desert to help other kids and families going through a cancer battle. If you want more information on the Desi Strong Foundation visit desistrongfoundation.org

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from family members and organizers about the Desi Memorial Mural.