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Aye & I

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Ayesha
I love this picture of my sister, AyeSha. Although it's from a different period in my life, I have it in a frame in my living room as this picture captures the essence of my sister - her smile, her laugh and unwavering presence.

About AyeSha

Ayesha
"I love this picture of my sister, AyeSha. Although it's from a different period in my life, I have it in a frame in my living room as this picture captures the essence of my sister - her smile, her laugh and unwavering presence."

My sister AyeSha was a force of nature and lit up the lives of many! She had the biggest heart and fiercely supported and protected those she loved. Her loyalty, strength, intelligence, and sweetness were unmatched. Despite her incredible potential, AyeSha experienced many challenges and often operated in survival mode and grappled with numerous ailments. Yet, she embodied resilience, facing life’s challenges head-on.

Throughout our lives, we shared countless memories, late-night conversations, and dreams for the future—dreams of even becoming business partners. Her unwavering support and love were constants in my life over the years.

On April 6, 2020, AyeSha passed away suddenly and tragically at the height of COVID-19. Losing her was one of the most significant traumas of my life. It’s hard to believe that as I write this today, it’s already been over four years since she passed away. To put it mildly, processing this loss and coming to terms with it over the years has not been easy.

In the first two years after her passing, I continuously found myself jumping back and forth between denial, anger, and grief, and then right back to denial again. Acceptance was hard to find. My emotions consumed me, but it wasn’t until the fall of 2022 that I realized just how much my grief was consuming me. On the last day of a  3-day plant medicine conference in Las Vegas, I was overcome with emotion but managed to hold it together until the last session. When my husband and daughter came to pick me up so that we could get on the road to head home, tears ran down my face. I could barely speak as I entered the minivan, but I mustered a few words to let my husband know that I wasn’t hurt; I just needed to purge my emotions.

After about an hour, I felt led to start journaling, and while doing so, something told me to look up the definition of my sister’s name. This was the first time I had done this. And I gasped after reading the results: “She who Lives”—the meaning of AyeSha. Wow. Reading those words meant so much to me at that moment. It was a gut check about the grief I was experiencing and how, by staying in the thick of it, I wasn’t living my life to its potential. It also reminded me that despite her passing, my sister’s spirit was still very much alive. She will continue to live through my memories of her, and I will carry on her dreams. This moment lit a fire under me. By the end of the ride back to California, I’d conceptualized Aye & I Apothecary’s She who Lives Collection.

In creating Aye & I Apothecary, I aim to carry forward the strength, love, and resilience that AyeSha embodied. And our shared passion for creating, cooking, and serving others. It is a testament to her life and a way to ensure that her spirit continues to touch others. Through this journey, I hope to provide the support and resources that AyeSha herself deserved but didn’t always receive and empower other women to tap into better opportunities and resources so they can thrive and achieve wellness—making a difference in those who need it most.

I appreciate each of you taking the time to read about my sister AyeSha and the Aye & I Apothecary journey. I look forward to sharing more with you as we roll out products and other offerings. 

Be well.
Danielle

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