Alexandra Marie Kamer

Alexandra “Alex” Marie Kamer (nee Miller) was born April 30, 1991 in Indianapolis, Indiana. After a brief battle with cancer, she passed away on October 28, 2024 with her parents by her side and her husband Alan holding her hand. 

Alex led a remarkable life in many ways. Born with a serious congenital heart defect, she had her first heart surgery at Riley Hospital for Children in her first few months and her open heart “reconstruction” at the Mayo Clinic at 3 years old. She never let her challenges define her or slow her down. She was the oldest of three, big sister to brothers Nathaniel (Nate) and Charles (Chase). She played entertainer, mediator, educator, and occasional victim to brotherly love. As a girl, she took music, art, and dance lessons, played soccer and was active in her church. She was an avid reader and the absolute delight of her extended family.

Even before elementary school, Alex began what was to become an illustrious fundraising career. She supported the work of the American Heart Association, serving as an adorable poster child and beacon of hope to so many families. For several decades, “Team Alex” was a force to be reckoned with at the annual Indianapolis Heart Walk, with Alex consistently on stage making speeches and receiving awards having out-fundraised all the adults. 

At Center Grove High School, she became a 4-year Marching Trojan, spending countless hours honing each show while developing lifelong friendships. It was there on those hot summer days with the metronome droning away that Alex, playing her flute, met the love of her life, Alan, playing the saxophone. Alex and Alan spent countless summer hours together, walking back and forth between their suburban backyards -- exactly where Alan would propose years later. During this time Alex went in for what was expected to be a routine cardiac procedure, and awoke several days later with a brand new pacemaker. Never one to let a little emergency surgery keep her down, Alex recovered and returned to school, marching band, church youth group, and her causes. Alex spent high school enjoying life with her friends, winning awards for community service, going on mission trips to Mexico and Honduras, driving her brothers and their friends, and generally brightening the world around her. She taught all of us, simply by being herself, what was important in life. 

Alex went on to attend Millikin University, following in the footsteps of her grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles. There she joined Pi Beta Phi, excelled academically, formally chose her career path and made lifelong friends. After graduation, Alex moved to Michigan to be near Alan. She and Alan became the de facto “parents” to Alan’s group of friends. Ever the big sister, Alex baked cookies, debriefed dates, and made grown men try new vegetables. Alex and Alan married in 2015 and their wedding was a celebration to remember. They were a well matched pair, going on adventures and doing life together. In 2018, they began the emotional rollercoaster of starting their family. Alex and Alan persevered through IVF, embryo transfers, and legal obstacles. With the help of gestational carriers, they welcomed their miracle babies: Crosby Frederick in 2020 and Barrett Alan in 2023. Crosby and Bear were truly the lights of her life. 

After welcoming their boys, Alex and Alan became champions for IVF rights in Michigan, fighting to make parenthood more accessible for others. A proud moment for Alex, Alan, Crosy, and Bear was watching House Bills 5207 through 5215 signed into law. These nine bills, known as the Michigan Family Protection Act decriminalize surrogacy and protect IVF. 

Alex is preceded in death by grandmother Joyce Winchell, grandfathers F.R “Bob” Winchell and J.Roger Miller, great uncle Bruce Schroeder, uncle John Miller and aunt Nancy Miller. She leaves behind her beloved husband Alan Kamer; their two sons Crosby (4) and Bear (1); grandmother Arlene Miller; parents Charles and Ellen (Winchell) Miller; parents-in-law Mark and Tina Kamer; brothers Nate (Grace) and Chase (Callie); brothers-in-law Eric (Amanda) and Brent; aunts Susan (Todd) Kurth, Barbara Klemp and Deborrah (Johnny) Wray; uncle Greg Miller; nephews Brooks Miller and Adam Kamer and nieces Sophia and Victoria Kamer; her dear cousins and countless cherished friends of all ages. 

The family would like to thank all of those who have loved Alex so well for the past 33 years. They would also like to thank the medical professionals from Riley Children’s Hospital, Mayo Clinic, and the Adult Congenital Heart Clinic at Michigan Medicine who provided her with excellent care, giving her the opportunity to lead such an extraordinary life. Lastly, the family would like to thank the Hematology/Oncology and ICU teams at University of Michigan Hospitals who worked tirelessly to provide Alex with the best possible care in her final weeks and hours.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth, 701 Church Street, Plymouth, Michigan.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. with the Memorial Service starting at 11:00 A.M.  The Memorial Service will also be live-streamed through these links:

First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth website:   https://fpcp.net/live-streaming

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/FPCPlymouth

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@fpcplymouth

Another Service will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024 at Center Grove Church, 2340 South SR 135, Greenwood, IN.  Visitation will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 P.M.  

The Celebration of Life service will begin at 3:30 P.M. and will also be live-streamed on Facebook at: 

https://www.facebook.com/centergrovechurch?mibextid=LQQJ4d

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to support the Adult Congenital Heart Program at the University of Michigan. Checks may be made Payable to "University of Michigan" and sent to 777 E. Eisenhower Pkwy, Suite 650, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Please include "In memory of Alex Kamer" in the memo line of the check or in an attached note. You may also call 734-764-6777 or visit the following link to make a gift online to Victors - Alex Kamer