Born: Leslie Faye Cohen, August 3, 1958

Champaign, IL

Died: September 1, 2018

Colorado Springs, CO

            Growing up in an Air Force family Leslie lived in Japan and Greece in her younger days.

            She went to nursing school at Texas Women’s University for her bachelor’s degree in medicine and finished her masters in nursing in Florida.

            Leslie went on to do traveling nursing which took her to the New England area, Las Vegas, Arizona and eventually back to Texas where her family lived. During her nursing career she was the nurse for the model who posed for the Columbia Pictures lady holding the torch, when the model was in her 80s. When comedian Sam Kenison had the car wreck that took his life, Leslie was traveling down the same highway and was the first medical person on the scene. Her other brush with fame came in Texas when there was an accident on the set of Walker Texas Ranger and Leslie was Chuck Norris’ nurse.

            Leslie’s nursing career was cut short when a patient in recovery lashed out in confusion and ruptured several discs in her neck. She later developed Bells Palsy in her left arm causing a weak grip.

            Leslie met her husband Michael in 2000. Michael flew to Arlington Texas and loaded up Leslie’s belongings and brought her to Colorado Springs in 2001. Leslie and Michael were married in Raton New Mexico, December 5th on the way to Colorado Springs.

            Leslie and Michael enjoyed walks in Garden of The Gods and Cheyenne Canyon. They both were big science fiction and fantasy fans and enjoyed watching movies and reading books.

            Leslie brought her dog Muppett with her from Texas, a Papillion that she loved very much. She later got Christen, another Papillion, as a companion for Muppett and the two dogs were like her children to Leslie. Christen passed away in 2017 and Muppett passed away in January of 2018 at 18 years of age.

            Leslie struggled with diabetes and Susac’s Syndrome starting around 2001. She underwent chemotherapy for the Susac’s Syndrome for several years. She was the 87th person in the world do be diagnosed with this disease.

            She later underwent back surgery which limited her mobility.

            By February 2016 Leslie suffered kidney failure and had to have dialysis the rest of her life.

            In 2017 she had a heart attack while visiting her parents in Texas. She never really regained her strength after that. She had a series of bad experiences in rehab centers including a broken collar bone and for the last months she was with us had a series of bad sores and infections on her feet.

            Doctors at the hospital kept giving her mood altering drugs to help her sleep even though they were told not to by Michael because they were making her confused. By the end they had taken their toll on her mind and she would go from being herself to being confused and some of the time she would start a sentence and only get three words out and just stop. Her memory was very bad after these drugs and Michael had to be her memory for her for the last two years, most of the time.

            Leslie had Michael with her continually for the last few years to see to her needs, fight for her rights and medical needs with too many doctors that did not understand her rare condition, and to get her everywhere she needed to go.

            Leslie died peacefully at home under Michael’s care after her decision not to continue treatments to fight the many things that were ravaging her body.

            Leslie leaves behind her husband Michael, sister Jennifer, her mother Alyce and friends who will all miss her very much. She made the world a brighter place for having her in it. Her passing will leave a lasting impression in our hearts that no other can fill.

            God graced us with her presence for a short time, but now he has called her to his side. The love, strength, understanding and compassion she brought into our lives may never be matched and will not be forgotten.

            I can think of no other person who is more deserving of peaceful rest and happiness after so long a trial in life than my wife Leslie Herman. She made our lives greater for having been in them, even when we were too blind to see it. I Love and Miss you Leslie.

            May she rest in peace and love and greet us in heaven when it’s our time to join her.