Alexus wasn’t just my daughter — she was my best friend. She was the glue that held our little family together. She was a light in this world, making you feel everything would be okay. Without her, the world feels darker.

Alexus was probably the hardest-working person I’ve ever known. She started working at age 12, shoveling horse stalls at a ranch. Everything she did, she did it 150%. She never did things halfway. People often told me, “They just don’t make people like her anymore.”

She loved mechanical things and learning how stuff worked. Shop class was her favorite place. She loved hands-on projects and took great pride in her work.

Alexus had a goofy, fun side, too. She loved anime, camping at her grandma’s, and going on drives with her close friends. Freedom was everything to her. She was happiest when she could just be herself, surrounded by the people she loved, building her own life. More than anything, she just wanted to grow up and start that life.

Alexus cared deeply about her friends. She was the cool kid everybody loved — always giving rides, helping them get to work, and making sure no one was left out. Her friends meant the world to her. To Alexus, they were family.

In September 2024, Alexus had just gotten her motorcycle license — only two weeks before the crash. Late that night on September 21, I got the call no parent ever wants to get. She’d been riding her motorcycle northbound on Redwood Road in Saratoga Springs. Distracted on her phone and after arguing with her boyfriend, she ran a red light and was hit by a car. Emergency crews were able to get her heart beating again, but her injuries were too severe.

The next day, September 22 — just one day before my birthday — Alexus passed away. She was only 18.

Even in her passing, she was a hero. She became an organ donor and saved several lives. That was who she was — always helping others.

Losing Alexus has been the hardest thing I’ve ever faced. We all struggle daily without her. She was the one who kept us moving forward. Now we try to think, “What would Alexus do?” and live in a way that would make her proud. But it’s hard without her light and her passion for life.

I want every young driver to really hear this: no distraction is worth your life. Emotional conversations, texting, looking away for even a second — it can all wait. Alexus did everything right in so many ways. She was responsible, hardworking, and loved deeply. But one moment of distraction took her from us. If she’d taken a moment to calm down and put her phone away, she’d still be here.

Please remember this: every time you get behind the wheel or on a bike, your life and your family’s future are on the line. Slow down. Pay attention. Think of your family. Make it home.