Alexandra Mings was the one person who could always get my mom to smile. She was gentle and always took time to talk with Mom, asking how she was feeling and whether she was in any pain. She was never rushed.

Lexi told me at one of her visits that when she was finished and ready to leave, my mom asked her not to go. Lexi sat in Mom’s room in a recliner for several hours, doing her charting just to keep her company—probably as Mom fell asleep.

As Mom’s health declined during the last week of her life, my daughter and I came into her room when she was having much more trouble breathing than she had before. It was a very scary time. We called for the facility nursing staff, but to be honest, I only wanted Lexi and her knowledge and expertise. I asked that she be called, and I honestly think she arrived within 15 minutes.

She professionally took control of the situation, assessing Mom’s condition, ordering necessary medications to help comfort her, and suggesting positions that could improve her breathing. Mom passed that week, but Lexi was there daily to check on her, keep us informed of how she felt my mom was doing, and answer any questions we had. She was always honest with us, even when the truth wasn’t necessarily what we hoped to hear.

When Hospice was first suggested to me as a resource for our family, I was hesitant. I thought Hospice was a sign that the end was near. Instead, Hospice was a blessing for our family, and I’m so thankful we made the decision to sign up for the service.

I half-jokingly would introduce Lexi as “our angel” but it was not a joke. Lexi is definitely an angel.