Alexi Maria Soutos

Alexi was indeed a very special five year old. She was not only a little bundle of energy but radiated love and left a lasting impression with everyone who met her. She always had a hug and smile for everyone. She loved music and was always singing and dancing. She is now an official Angel and will make Heaven an even more joyful place.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is from the March 2006 edition of the Heart to Heart newsletter

By Jennifer Soutos

I want to thank so many Williams Syndrome Association families for their support, prayers, calls, gifts, donations and just being there for us.

Our Alexi was our shining light.

She loved people, music, dancing and her family. She never had a bad day unless maybe she wasn't feeling well.

The only time she got angry was if she had to leave somewhere and she wanted to stay and then she really let us know she didn't want to leave.

She loved to run and play at school and was going to marry her friend at school, Kevin.

She adored her mommy, daddy, sister Jaime, Pop Pop, Nana, Pa-pou, Via Yia, Uncle Basil, Uncle Chris, Uncle Mike and Aunt Dana and their dogs. She also loved going to church and treated the priest like a celebrity. She loved to talk about vacuum sweepers and when we went to Target, she preferred to visit the vacuum sweepers over the toy area. She loved playgrounds, riding ponies and going to fairs. She loved to go swimming and be with her friends. She adored music and especially musicals such as Annie, Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. She liked Dora the explorer and Little Einsteins too. Alexi's first song was "Oh Where Oh Where is Shadow?" from Bear and the Big Blue House. Her favorite saying was "Oh Picklejuice", and she also used to say "Can't catch me"!

There was never a day that went by that Alexi didn't give us a hug, kiss or tell us how much she loved us. She was attending an IU class but would have gone to regular kindergarten next year. She was doing fantastic academically, developmentally, and physically. Scoliosis was her one big issue but she never complained about going to doctors. She actually loved going to the doctor and we are thankful that she wasn't afraid as she approached that final surgery.

When I first found out Alexi had Williams syndrome at age 7 months, I was devastated. She was my beautiful first born little girl. I didn't want anything to be wrong with her. There were some challenges but as she grew and got older, they decreased in importance or became different. She found a way to overcome every obstacle that came her way. Sometimes it took her longer to get it but she always got it... Until that one final obstacle in the OR - the one she wasn't able to overcome.

Alexi was going to be a star one day and be on stage. She sang to over 300 people during a music concert at an event through "Makin Music". She had no fear and loved every moment of her performance.

Alexi loved life. The janitor at her school was an older gentleman who said to us, "1 am just a janitor but Alexi made me feel like a king".

That's what Alexi did for everyone she touched. She was our family and we miss her so much and love her so much and pray she is singing and dancing in heaven!

To donate to the WSA in Alexi's memory, click here