Our Story
The Journey of founding Lexi's Light Co.
This journey all began with Alexis, or "Lexi" as everyone knew her. As you can see in the picture she was a beautiful, loving, vibrant and funny young lady. I want to tell you about more about her.
At the age of 4 years old, Lexi found her very first passion, basketball and she never stopped, playing on numerous AAU travel teams as well as her high school team, becoming a well-known athlete in the community. Lexi loved hanging out at Sonic and if she wasn't in the gym you could find her there. Lexi loved her family, friends, cowgirl boots, Disney movies, board games and just hanging out around the campfire. Lexi's favorite color was blue and in the spring of 2021 her favorite artist became Morgan Wallen. She drove a Jeep renegade named Sapphire but really wanted a Jeep Wrangler painted lime green. She wanted to be TikTok famous, Lex loved making those videos. Her laugh was something else and very contagious. She wasn't perfect but she was close. Lex's birthdate April 11, 2003. She was 18 on April 11, 2021 smack in the middle of the COVID epidemic. May 2021 Lexi graduated from Tazewell High School and had a summer full of plans to travel a lot including Oklahoma, Florida, rodeos, theme parks, and of course the cove before heading to college in the fall. I was so excited for her to began a new chapter!
However, her life and mine drastically changed on June 15, 2021 when Lex was diagnosed with metastatic undifferentiated / unclassified sarcoma, a rare form of cancer found only in 1 to 3 children and young adults in the USA per year. This news was beyond heartbreaking and shocking because she was always healthy! I want to mention that the only sign of this was a lump on her upper right arm. Soon after Lex received her port and began chemotherapy at Wake Forrest Baptist Health.
Lexi, our family and myself had high hopes that this nightmare would soon be over and college would be her next challenge. For many months, Lex had more downs than ups. She was often drained from treatment and far less active than the young lady who had just graduated high school. Although most days she spent sick, Lex never faltered. She had such a passion and desire for life and each day continued to fight hard. I still remember her smile and Lexi's voice telling me that it could be worse. We spent the good nights watching her favorite shows and movies, playing her favorite games and just talking. When she slept, I watched her sleep afraid to sleep myself; I was so scared of losing her.
Things seemed better during Christmas which, to me, seemed like a Christmas miracle. Lexi had more energy and it appeared that treatment was really working. That didn't last long. On January 8, 2022 Lex started to have a tremendous amount of pain and on January 26, 2022 Lex was diagnosis terminal. I was in denial of the diagnosis and assured her we would find something, someone and somewhere to make this untrue. I failed and Lex lost her battle with cancer on February 11, 2022.
It is still unknown why Lexi developed such a rare form of cancer, why she only had 8 1/2 months to fight after her diagnosis or why she had to die, but I will not give up hope that somehow, somewhere, someday I will find the cause.
After Lexi's passing, I dealt with the grief of losing my child, anxiety, and depression. I had a breakdown and I began therapy. Therapy recommended that I get a hobby. What started as a hobby making candles, soaps, and other products for family members became a small business, Lexi's Light Co., and is now available to you. I couldn't think of a better way to honor my baby girl.
My goal now is to live with purpose. My purpose is help others like so many helped me and Lexi while she was sick . To bring awareness to this horrible disease, to aid patients and their families through gifts and donations, and to donate to cancer research. I realize now that I can't save anyone but I can contribute.
I strongly feel the commercial chemicals that we all use everyday may possibly be a contributing factor to cancer. You never have to worry though, the products offered through Lexi's Light Co. are free of carcinogens, mutagens, and phthalates giving you a healthier alternative to commercial products.
April Herald-Cole