Kaileigh Nichole Dexter

Kaileigh Nichole Dexter (née Meade), age 33, died on February 7, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona, from a fentanyl poisoning.

Born on April 9, 1991, in Tucson, Kaileigh lived a life filled with love, faith, and deep devotion to her family. In 2021, she gave her life to the Lord and was water baptized, sharing her love of Jesus and her faith with her children. Kaileigh was known for her kindness, compassion, and ability to see the good in everyone. She loved from a pure heart and led by example, teaching forgiveness and showing genuine care to all who crossed her path.

Her greatest joy in life was being a mother to her three sons: John Lee, Declan, and Logan. Every moment with them was intentional—filled with laughter, love, and the creation of beautiful memories. Kaileigh also loved deep conversations, true connections, singing, dancing, and photography. She found peace in nature, especially by the ocean and on hiking trails. Above all else, family meant everything to her.

But Kaileigh also faced struggles that too often go unseen. After the birth of each of her three boys, she battled postpartum depression, extreme anxiety, and sleep deprivation. She sought treatment and followed medical advice, but her symptoms never fully lifted. In time, she turned to alcohol and marijuana to cope. Instead of being met with compassion and support, Kaileigh was often judged, criticized, and misunderstood—even by those closest to her. She carried heavy guilt and shame, questioning her worth as a mother and wondering if her children truly knew how much she loved them.

After the birth of her youngest son, Kaileigh experienced postpartum psychosis, a devastating mental health crisis. Rather than receiving understanding and care, she was punished and ostracized. She faced arrest, custody battles, and the threat of losing her children—the very ones she loved more than anything. The weight of rejection and stigma deepened her suffering. Eventually, in a moment of trust, she took a pill from someone she believed, not knowing it contained fentanyl. That single pill ended her life.

Kaileigh’s story is not only one of love and loss but also of lessons her family wishes to share. They acknowledge that they, too, sometimes failed to give her the understanding she needed. They now call on others to learn from Kaileigh’s death: to look beyond behaviors to the pain beneath them, to meet struggling mothers and those with substance use disorder with empathy instead of judgment, and to remember that no one chooses to suffer from mental illness or addiction.

Kaileigh is forever loved, forever missed, and never forgotten. Her three boys will carry her love as they grow, and her story will continue to inspire compassion, awareness, and change.