The Funeral Service plan for Alaijah Spencer:

House of Day Funeral Services

November 20th, 2025. Visitation at 1pm. Service at 2pm.

2550 Nebraska Ave. Toledo, Ohio 43607.

Alaijah's Story:

Alaijah Spencer is a 20-year-old from Toledo, Ohio. In October, during her second year of pursuing her passion for art at Eastern Michigan University, she unexpectedly fell ill. These symptoms included being so fatigued that she couldn't go to class, go downstairs to get food, or even climb up onto her lofted bed to sleep comfortably.

After a few weeks of dealing with these symptoms, she started coughing up blood and decided to go to the ER. They found out she had blood clots in her lungs and fluid around her heart, which were signs of early-stage heart failure. While in the hospital getting treated, she had several strokes (at the age of 19).

Alaijah had to drop out of university and was in and out of the hospital, trying different treatments. After a few months, the doctors corrected her diagnosis; She was in end-stage heart failure and needed an LVAD pump. A few days later, they unexpectedly informed her that she requires a heart transplant as soon as possible instead of the LVAD. After going through surgery to be hooked to an ECMO machine, Alaijah was immediately put as top priority for a heart transplant in the Midwest region.

While on the transplant waitlist, much longer than the doctors anticipated, she started having complications with the ECMO and had an emergency surgery to get it removed. Due to the removal of the ECMO and having yet to receive a transplant, she had to get another surgery to implant the LVAD pump.

After several complications, Alaijah was finally able to receive the heart she desperately needed and was successfully able to get through rehab/physical therapy and go home for a few weeks until she fell ill with a bacterial infection. Ultimately, catching sepsis and being placed back into the hospital in critical condition. Not long had passed before her family realized that this time was different, and that it was unlikely that Alaijah would recover. Unfortunately, she peacefully passed on November 8th, surrounded by all of her loved ones.

While a large majority of the fundraised money originally went to equipment to help Alaijah live comfortably at home, the remainder, as well as future donations, will go to funeral costs.

Alaijah Spencer fought hard until the very end, and we want to celebrate her life as she would want. We would like to thank those who supported us and helped us afford extra time with someone we cared for so deeply. We also sincerely appreciate everyone who has supported us in this journey, and we are forever thankful for your compassion. We are also forever grateful to the staff at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center ICU, as well as Dr. Tipograf and the surgical staff, for everything they did for Alaijah. She was loved by everyone she met and was always a joy to be around.