CARSON, Calif. -- A.J. DeLaGarza has been at his best this season for the L.A. Galaxy, even when things were at their worst.
Back on Sept. 4, DeLaGarza's one-week-old son, Luca, died due to complications of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a rare heart condition. Luca had undergone one surgery already, and was preparing for another when he passed away.
For DeLaGarza, there are reminders of Luca's all too brief life everywhere, some subtle, some not so. A copy of the "Luca Knows Heart" logo -- one that gained traction on social media -- can be seen on the wall of the Galaxy's locker room, and DeLaGarza wrote his son's name on his soccer shoes. The Galaxy defender added that photos of Luca adorn many of the walls in the house where he and his wife, Megan, live.
"My wife likes talking about him because it makes it feel like he is still there," said DeLaGarza after Thursday's training session. "Women take it a lot harder than men because they have to carry a child for nine months. Then to only get to see him for a week is tough for a woman. It was tough for me too, but I'm just trying to be strong for her and support her in any way that I can."
Thinking of others has been largely how DeLaGarza has coped, and that includes his extended family with the Galaxy. He missed three games during the ordeal, and took a little over a week off after Luca's passing. But he was back on the field for L.A.'s 1-1 draw against San Jose on Sept. 14, and has been an ever-present force for the Galaxy since then, even as he's toggled between center back and right back.
"We've had so many issues to deal with in our back line, but we could place A.J. anywhere and he'd get the job done and he'd lead," Galaxy manager Bruce Arena said.
That only makes the focus and positive attitude DeLaGarza has shown even more astounding. At the same time, the soccer field also offered a welcome dose of simplicity and order.
"Off the field, I couldn't predict what was going to happen in Luca's life," he said. "I could try to make decisions but no decision was easy. On the field, I could kind of control what was going on with the way I played. If I came out here with a bad attitude every day, I probably wouldn't be starting, or have the kind of year I had. I had the worst year of my life off the field, but the best one playing-wise. I don't know how that works. It's crazy."
DeLaGarza has taken some comfort in diving into charitable works. He's helped raise over $25,000 for the Heart Institute at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, where Luca had his surgery. His efforts helped him win the MLS Humanitarian of the Year award.
"I know how expensive it is to have heart surgeries for your child," he said. "I just wanted to kind of help out and raise money and awareness for other families that are going through this. Just helping out other families is important to us."
To longtime friend and teammate Omar Gonzalez, DeLaGarza is a marvel. The two played together on the college level at the University of Maryland, and continued their partnership after the Galaxy drafted both players in 2009. Gonzalez has found inspiration in the way DeLaGarza has navigated his way through the most painful of losses.
"A.J. stayed pretty internal about it and wanted us to do well on the field," Gonzalez said. "It was amazing he never really broke down. He stayed strong for his wife and his family. The only thing he asked from us was to keep doing what we were doing on the field. 'Keep on making me happy by winning games.' Everyone rallied behind him."
DeLaGarza indicated that he's thankful for the support that Gonzalez and his wife, Erica, gave him and his family during this time, but he also said his teammate is giving him a little bit too much credit. The day after Luca was born, amid the heaviness of the situation, DeLaGarza admitted that he cried as he took a brief moment to be by himself.
"It's not that I have no emotions, but I just hold them back. I think I put them out on a soccer field. You can see my anger on the field when I'm yelling at referees," he said with a grin.
Now his focus is on Sunday's MLS Cup final against New England. DeLaGarza missed the second leg of the Western Conference finals against Seattle with a left hamstring strain, though he expects to be fit enough to play against a Revolution team that has been white-hot over the last two months.
"I think it's going to be a heck of a game," he said.
And one he hopes will provide an upbeat finish to a trying season.