Aleigha’s Light: A Mother’s Love, A Daughter’s Legacy

Rebecca and Aleigha

Aleigha was the kind of person who always put others first. Sensitive and kind-hearted, she never hesitated to help someone. From a young age, Aleigha was outgoing, funny, and full of life. She loved watching her younger brother’s football games with her mom, laughing and cheering from the sidelines. She grew into a compassionate young woman, and though she once dreamed of becoming an EMT, her path shifted with love and motherhood.

She found joy in the simple things—quiet rides on dirt roads, music playing through the speakers, her daughters giggling in the back seat. Aleigha adored her two young girls, Jazzlyn and Jayde. They were her pride and joy. Moments like those were full of connection, love, and happiness.

When her family learned that Aleigha could become a cornea donor through Saving Sight, they felt both the shock of loss and the comfort of purpose. “Deciding to donate was an honor,” her mom, Rebecca, says. “Knowing that Aleigha selflessly shared a part of herself to brighten a stranger’s life has been a true blessing.” Aleigha’s family found comfort in knowing her legacy would live on as a donor hero. Her mom, Rebecca, shares, “Being a donor family is an honor. Knowing that a loved one can give all they have for strangers and that those strangers are flourishing is a blessing.”

Aleigha and family

Her mother now honors her by sharing her story whenever she can and attending events celebrating the gift of eye, organ, and tissue donation. “It brings us joy to be in contact with her recipients,” she says. “Knowing she’s still here in a way you can cling to mentally and emotionally.” It’s through those connections that Aleigha’s family has found an unexpected comfort. Each thank-you note is a reminder that Aleigha’s light endures, sparking new beginnings in eyes and hearts she’ll never meet.

In the months following Aleigha’s donation, Rebecca found solace and solidarity within the tight-knit donation community. Rebecca enjoys going to donor remembrance events, where she meets fellow donor families who understand grief’s quiet ache and the profound pride that comes with giving life to strangers. “We can be there for each other. Even though we are all strangers in this walk of life, we all have a commonality,” her mom, Rebecca, shares. Thanks to their warmth, she discovered that although every loss is intensely personal, the shared compassion of fellow donor families can turn grief into a celebration of hope and healing.”

“To fellow donor families, she offers this comfort: ‘When uncertainty feels overwhelming, hold on to hope. I envision my daughter’s spark living on in others—illuminating their lives just as it did ours.”

This Mother’s Day, we honor Aleigha, her giving spirit, and the strength of her mother, Rebecca, who continues to share her daughter’s light with the world.