Madyson Elizabeth Ysasaga

She returned to Him so peacefully— ironic for a life that was a struggle for every breath. Her breaths that morning became steadily more shallow and less frequent. Her mom and dad waited for the next inhale and exhale, but it never happened. She quietly and effortlessly was released from this life. Maybe we got a glimpse of how peaceful her new and eternal life is to be.

Madyson was born July 30, 1992 in Riverside, California. One year later our family moved to Chico, California where Mady grew up with her loving siblings filling every room she entered with her contagious laugh. She attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She later moved to Katy, Texas where she changed many lives and eventually passed on to her Heavenly Home.

Living with Cystic Fibrosis, she championed the disabled as she underwent double lung transplant operations in 2017 and again in 2024, in addition to numberless other hospital stays throughout her 32 years. She often described herself as a “professional patient”. She refused to let her physical limitations hold her back in any way. She joined the Bidwell Jr. High School cross country team and the Pleasant Valley High School swim team and Academic Decathlon team. She commanded attention on stage in her many roles of musical productions with her booming voice and confidence. The audience couldn't wait for Mady's next line. She was always "all in."

Madyson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT and was, at her core, a creator. She loved installation art— 3D images that would pull you into a 4D philosophical and spiritual journey. She made you think and ponder your own interpretations of her designs at her pleasure. Her works of art were featured in magazines and in exhibitions at Lawndale Art Center in Houston, TX, The Center for LDS Arts in Mesa, AZ, The “Breath-Taking” exhibit at the dnj Gallery in Los Angeles, CA, and the Copelouzos Family Art Museum in Athens, Greece.

She never left her fellow CF'ers in her rear view mirror. As a young teen, she became a radio marketer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation with her characteristic charisma and eloquence. Mady chose to take on the Instagram handle of “@dear_donor” to honor the organ donor who provided Madyson with her first set of transplanted lungs.

Through @dear_donor, Madyson brought her many followers into her world—and nothing was off-limits. She walked us through the painful and often isolating experience of life with Cystic Fibrosis. With each post addressed to her “Dear Donors” she deftly navigated the joys of the renewed life that her donors’ lungs provided her while directly confronting the elephant in her new life: that she only lived because her donors died. She loved her donors and honored the legacy they afforded her through her life and service.

Madyson is a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She shared her talents and beliefs in various leadership roles, serving in the Houston Temple and Seven Lakes Ward Relief Society Presidency, but she starred as a teacher. She loved teaching the young children in Primary classes, a high school Bible study class, and an Emotional Resilience course for adults. After visiting the Holy Land, she was inspired to found an Easter pageant, "Journey to Jerusalem", to share testimonies of Jesus Christ in the Katy, TX Stake. Hundreds have enjoyed this event year after year, and we will continue to think of her each spring as we celebrate the life, Atonement, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

She was cared for her whole life by brilliant medical teams at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento, CA; University of California San Diego Medical Center in La Jolla, CA; University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT; and Baylor St. Luke's Texas Medical Center in Houston, TX.

She is survived by her best friend and mother Melanie, her loving father Michael, and her amazing siblings Ashley and Danny Rasmussen (Rosie, Pippa and Wally), Travis and Jessica Ysasaga (with soon to be born nephew) and Brandon and Haven Ysasaga and her faithful goldendoodle Akai.

Families are Forever!

A Celebration of Life will be held in Madyson's honor on Tuesday, May 13th at 11am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9100 Heritage Bluff Dr., Richmond, TX 77406.