After her miscarriage, caring for succulents was a gift during a dark period

Engoy holding a Maranta leuconeura at her shop in Lomita, California. Photo: Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Twelve years ago, Marissa Engoy suffered a miscarriage. For days, she struggled to get out of bed.

That's when a friend brought her some succulents as a gift. She'd never seen a succulent before that day, but was drawn to their adorable, chubby, cartoon-like appearance.