CARSON, Calif. – Things are starting to get back to normal, or as close to normal as they can get, for LA Galaxy defender AJ DeLaGarza, who is back in Southern California and fully involved with his team after burying his first child.
DeLaGarza on Wednesday trained with LA for the first time in about two weeks, then noted how important his teammates have been as he and his wife, Megan, endured during their son's brief life and death from a congenital heart condition.
“It's been great,” he said. “They've all gone above and beyond the support I expected. It's good to have those guys around.”
The Galaxy are happy to have him back, and not just because they've been in crisis, with injuries and suspensions at outside back. DeLaGarza joined them last weekend in the Bay Area and played 90 minutes at right back in Sunday's 1-1 draw at San Jose, the game he targeted for his return following Luca's Sept. 4 death.
“He's a great guy,” associate head coach Dave Sarachan said, “and, just as a starting point, to have a good person back, a teammate that's respected, is a big plus. And then throughout this whole ordeal and process, it's been a real bonding experience for the group. When you're missing someone and they come back from something like that, you just feel whole again.”
The DeLaGarzas had spent the previous week at home in Maryland, where they buried Luca and grieved with family and close friends.
“It was important to be with my entire family and have a service where my son could be with our other family members that are buried in Maryland,” DeLaGarza said. “When we go back home, it will be special to go visit him there.”
The tragedy has made him and his wife stronger – “There's a quote, I don't remember what it said, but 'you don't know how strong you are until strong is the least you can do,' or something like that,” he said – and they might take advantage of support groups involving other parents who have lost children.
“[There are] groups with parents and families that have all been through the same thing, so it's important to know we're not the only ones,” he said. “I think [it could be helpful], just for my wife to meet other moms who have been through the same thing and see what to expect, I think would be great for her. I think things are a lot different for a mother when you lose a child, so I think it's something to look into.”
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The DeLaGarzas have been deeply moved by the outpouring of support they've received from the American soccer community and elsewhere, he said. It is helping him and Megan move forward.
“It makes it so much easier on us,” he said. “People are always wanting to do things for us, go out with us, just get out [of the house] -- not take your mind off it, but we want to talk about [Luca]. That's how it eases it.”
How Luca fought during his week on earth provides him plenty of inspiration.
“I never took plays off before, but I'll definitely never take a play off now,” DeLaGarza said. “I've always got someone above watching over me, so that's pretty special.”
