Our son passed away, and we made arrangements with a local funeral home. The viewing was scheduled, so my wife and I will be alone with our son before regular visiting hours. Our son was developmentally disabled so we have to notify a number of agencies of his passing, each one saying call back in a few days.

Three days before the viewing, I was admitted to the hospital with sepsis, I asked the Drs what is my chance of being discharged for my son's funeral. Their response was NO chance. now my wife has to deal with everything on her own, which is difficult when dealing with grief and crying all day. One day, I cut the obituary with my son's picture out of the paper, I put it on my tray with my meals, this is the day I met Lexi (nurse Alexis Disbrow), she looked at my tray with a quizzical look. I explained I was having my meals with my son since I couldn't be with him on his final journey, and she understood.

The next time I saw Lexi, she told me, "I promise you, I will do everything I can to help you be with your son." Everyone knows that what a nurse does every day is impossible, but they do it. It's not a job it's a calling, and they do what needs to be done. Lexi said anything you need, call me; I will see you get your tests, procedures, antibiotics, blood work, CTs, and meds all on time; whatever is needed, I will do to make this happen. I now thought this was beyond impossible because 4 years ago, I had sepsis and was in the hospital for 12 days, but Lexi making this gesture elevated me out of my depression, and she also kept her word; she was there when I woke up, when I fell asleep, also in the middle of the night when a test was called for, I don't know how she did it.

The day before the funeral, a Dr came to my room telling me he's signing off on me, so I can see my son. I wasn't sure what I heard, then one by one every Dr, nurse practitioner or consultant that I had any interaction with came to my room saying almost the same thing...It's for your son. I didn't know I saw so many doctors or how Lexi was able to persuade all these busy professionals to come online for this cause. Lexi came to my room this time with a supervisor saying I made you a promise, but the supervisor said if things don't work out, there is an option you could sign yourself out, I don't recommend it. It would be against the doctor's orders.

The day of the funeral, all but one of the doctors signed off, she's not a holdout, she is waiting for the results of one last test before deciding. This test will determine if I could be discharged or not, but the clock is ticking and time is running out. My wife brought me clothes, I would sign myself out if I have no choice, I have to be with my son. The the doctor came to my room with the results of the test. Now this is a Hallmark movie moment, I could not read the Doctor's face, she said the test is negative but with a long pause, then a big smile on her face. I will be discharging you with a number of conditions: take the prescribed antibiotics as ordered, get a colonoscopy, and see your PCP. This was at 1:00; I said absolutely yes. This gives me time to take a shower, change clothes and still make it to the funeral on time, for the private viewing, for my wife and I.

My son is a big sports fan, the next day, I was able to read the sports pages to him, to let him know his Jets are not having a good season and we will all meet again in heaven. All of this happened because an angel named Lexi made me a promise. If you don't believe in angels, the next time you are in the hospital, press the nurse call button, and you will see one. My wife and I want to thank the funeral home for helping us fill up the viewing room with our son's memorabilia.