It’s been 1 year today since 4-year old, Alexa Aigner earned her angel wings. In December of 2005, Alexa was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma. I came to know this little girl through her CaringBridge site in 2007. She was an amazing little girl who never gave up hope, who continued to have a smile on her face and loved her family and friends with all her heart.
Alexa’s mom, Crys, wrote in Alexa’s CaringBridge site almost daily. She was very vivid and detailed in telling us Alexa’s story. And though most who read the entries posted by Crys had never met Alexa or her family, we all felt as though we had known them her whole life. I can remember telling Crys at one time that I felt ‘like I was reading a book that I couldn’t put down, but I had to remember that this was real – this was about a real child with cancer.’ I remember thinking as the time drew nearer for Alexa to go to heaven that I was almost afraid of reading the next entry in the CaringBridge site – the next chapter - for fear that it might one day say “our sweet princess had earned her wings.” And that day did come – June 25th, 2008.
I was one of the lucky ones, Shane and I both were. We got the chance to meet Princess Alexa about two weeks before she passed away. She was in the hospital and wasn’t really feeling well, so we didn’t stay long. She stayed in her bed watching Shane as he played with her toys and drew on her wall in the hospital. She wouldn’t take her eyes off of him. He had his mohawk at that time and she was fascinated by it. Her room was covered in pink things and princess stuff. Shane asked questions about Alexa when we left and as best I could I answered them. Having been through and knowing what he does with his Dad, he understands what goes on and takes the time to process the information.
When the time came, I told Shane that Alexa had passed away. I gave him the option to attend the funeral. His first response was, “I don’t have any dress clothes!” He didn’t even think about it – he was going! At the request of Alexa’s parents, Zack and Crys, all were to wear pink in honor of Princess Alexa. So, we bought Shane a suit with a pink shirt, I wore a pink shirt and Austin wore a pink shirt. Shane even wore a pink ribbon with lace in honor of Alexa on his suit jacket. And his mohawk was spiked just as Alexa would have loved to see! (pic of Shane before Alexa's funeral below)
I have been to many funerals, but that one was different. That was the hardest funeral I have ever attended. Watching as all her little friends walk to the casket to say their “see you laters” to her was just devastating. I keep the little handout from Alexa’s funeral hanging up at my desk. It has my favorite picture on the front (the one above) – her “scrunchy smile”! Shane keeps one hanging in his room, too. Crys did an amazing job at giving her own eulogy or as I had rather say, telling Alexa’s story. She is an amazing woman, Crys is. She has since started the Princess Alexa Foundation, providing seriously ill children with dress up clothes.
The story of this little girl has forever changed me. It has opened my eyes to many things. As a caregiver, Crys has given me so much inspiration and hope. She has shown me that it’s okay to be weak at times even when everyone is expecting you to be strong.
I encourage you to read Alexa’s story by reading the journal entries on her CaringBridge site. You can do that by clicking here . . . http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/alexaaigner
Visit the Princess Alexa Foundation http://www.princessalexafoundation.org/
Today, on the 1 year anniversary of Alexa's Angel Day - the Princess Alexa Foundation will celebrate the opening of two dress-up closets at Children's Medical Center of Dallas!
Or keep in touch with Crys and her two Zacks http://www.meandmyzacks.blogspot.com/
Love and blessings!
.
Alexa’s mom, Crys, wrote in Alexa’s CaringBridge site almost daily. She was very vivid and detailed in telling us Alexa’s story. And though most who read the entries posted by Crys had never met Alexa or her family, we all felt as though we had known them her whole life. I can remember telling Crys at one time that I felt ‘like I was reading a book that I couldn’t put down, but I had to remember that this was real – this was about a real child with cancer.’ I remember thinking as the time drew nearer for Alexa to go to heaven that I was almost afraid of reading the next entry in the CaringBridge site – the next chapter - for fear that it might one day say “our sweet princess had earned her wings.” And that day did come – June 25th, 2008.
I was one of the lucky ones, Shane and I both were. We got the chance to meet Princess Alexa about two weeks before she passed away. She was in the hospital and wasn’t really feeling well, so we didn’t stay long. She stayed in her bed watching Shane as he played with her toys and drew on her wall in the hospital. She wouldn’t take her eyes off of him. He had his mohawk at that time and she was fascinated by it. Her room was covered in pink things and princess stuff. Shane asked questions about Alexa when we left and as best I could I answered them. Having been through and knowing what he does with his Dad, he understands what goes on and takes the time to process the information.
When the time came, I told Shane that Alexa had passed away. I gave him the option to attend the funeral. His first response was, “I don’t have any dress clothes!” He didn’t even think about it – he was going! At the request of Alexa’s parents, Zack and Crys, all were to wear pink in honor of Princess Alexa. So, we bought Shane a suit with a pink shirt, I wore a pink shirt and Austin wore a pink shirt. Shane even wore a pink ribbon with lace in honor of Alexa on his suit jacket. And his mohawk was spiked just as Alexa would have loved to see! (pic of Shane before Alexa's funeral below)
I have been to many funerals, but that one was different. That was the hardest funeral I have ever attended. Watching as all her little friends walk to the casket to say their “see you laters” to her was just devastating. I keep the little handout from Alexa’s funeral hanging up at my desk. It has my favorite picture on the front (the one above) – her “scrunchy smile”! Shane keeps one hanging in his room, too. Crys did an amazing job at giving her own eulogy or as I had rather say, telling Alexa’s story. She is an amazing woman, Crys is. She has since started the Princess Alexa Foundation, providing seriously ill children with dress up clothes.
The story of this little girl has forever changed me. It has opened my eyes to many things. As a caregiver, Crys has given me so much inspiration and hope. She has shown me that it’s okay to be weak at times even when everyone is expecting you to be strong.
I encourage you to read Alexa’s story by reading the journal entries on her CaringBridge site. You can do that by clicking here . . . http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/alexaaigner
Visit the Princess Alexa Foundation http://www.princessalexafoundation.org/
Today, on the 1 year anniversary of Alexa's Angel Day - the Princess Alexa Foundation will celebrate the opening of two dress-up closets at Children's Medical Center of Dallas!
Or keep in touch with Crys and her two Zacks http://www.meandmyzacks.blogspot.com/
Love and blessings!
.
1 comment:
Jessica- thank you for such a beautiful posting about our little girl. I will never forget that mohawk and how much Alexa was in awe of Shane. You are a wonderful family. Thank you for visiting her and bringing her that mum she kept right by her side until she passed.
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