Ashlyn's Medical Expenses
Donation protected
UPDATE:
I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their amazing support!! Ashlyn has been to Boston twice so far and we have plans for two more trips in the next month. With many more to follow as she continues to receive care. Our insurance will only allow Ashlyn to see her two specialist 4 times each! Afterwards we must pay her medical expenses out of pocket. With this in mind we are sharing our GoFundMe page. We are also continuing to struggle on one paycheck and need funds just for assistance with monthly expenses. Any donation would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Love,
The Barrett Family
ASHLYN’S STORY
If you ever go to a University of Maryland Women's Basketball home game, there is a very good chance that, before the game, you will see my seven year old daughter, Ashlyn, sitting under the basket, in her wheelchair, encouraging her team as they warm up for the game. I say "her team" because Ashlyn wears #16 and is a full member of the team.
Through a wonderful program called "Team Impact," children with life-threatening and chronic illnesses are connected with college athletic teams. In this case, Brenda Frese and the Lady Terps have not only made Ashlyn a part of their Team, they have made her a part of their family. This has been both a blessing and a life changer for Ashlyn. She loves her big sisters (her heroes) and she thinks of the Xfinity Center as her second home.
I don't want to focus too much on Ashlyn's physical challenges because I want to follow her lead and stay positive but, amongst other things, Ashlyn is dealing with Supra-ventricular Tachycardia (a heart condition), Muscular Dystrophy, frequent bouts of pneumonia, and Gastroparesis.
Focusing on the Gastroparesis, don't be surprised if you have never heard of it because Gastroparesis is extremely rare (1 in 200,000). Think of it as being paralysis of the digestive system where the only thing that pushes food through Ashlyn's system is gravity. This results in very frequent visits to the emergency room because of severe vomiting and dehydration. In fact , if you don't see Ashlyn with her Team on game day, she is likely in the hospital giving the doctors her "thumbs up."
If you have ever seen the movie, "Miracles From Heaven" starring Jennifer Garner, the movie follows the true story of a young girl with Gastroparesis. She received treatment from Doctor Samuel Nurko, at Children's Hospital in Boston. Very few doctors specialize in Gastroparesis and Dr. Nurko is the best in the world. Ashlyn has a specialist in Washington but he is talking about inserting a feeding tube and we are hoping and praying that other treatment options are available.
My husband, Justin, and I were a middle class, two income, family with two children. I am a graduate of UMBC but I am no longer able to work because my days are spent taking Ashlyn to her various therapies and doctor appointments. Justin works very hard full time as an exterminator for a small company but he doesn't make much money and he is subject to being laid off during bad weather. The bottom line is that, for now, we are on public assistance and, as humiliating as it is to publicly ask for help, we have no choice.
Dr. Nurko has accepted Ashlyn as a patient and we have been told that she will have her first appointment either March or April 2017. For this reason, the primary purpose of this funding request is to help us get Ashlyn to Boston as frequently as she needs to go.
Thank you!
Jennifer Barrett
I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their amazing support!! Ashlyn has been to Boston twice so far and we have plans for two more trips in the next month. With many more to follow as she continues to receive care. Our insurance will only allow Ashlyn to see her two specialist 4 times each! Afterwards we must pay her medical expenses out of pocket. With this in mind we are sharing our GoFundMe page. We are also continuing to struggle on one paycheck and need funds just for assistance with monthly expenses. Any donation would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Love,
The Barrett Family
ASHLYN’S STORY
If you ever go to a University of Maryland Women's Basketball home game, there is a very good chance that, before the game, you will see my seven year old daughter, Ashlyn, sitting under the basket, in her wheelchair, encouraging her team as they warm up for the game. I say "her team" because Ashlyn wears #16 and is a full member of the team.
Through a wonderful program called "Team Impact," children with life-threatening and chronic illnesses are connected with college athletic teams. In this case, Brenda Frese and the Lady Terps have not only made Ashlyn a part of their Team, they have made her a part of their family. This has been both a blessing and a life changer for Ashlyn. She loves her big sisters (her heroes) and she thinks of the Xfinity Center as her second home.
I don't want to focus too much on Ashlyn's physical challenges because I want to follow her lead and stay positive but, amongst other things, Ashlyn is dealing with Supra-ventricular Tachycardia (a heart condition), Muscular Dystrophy, frequent bouts of pneumonia, and Gastroparesis.
Focusing on the Gastroparesis, don't be surprised if you have never heard of it because Gastroparesis is extremely rare (1 in 200,000). Think of it as being paralysis of the digestive system where the only thing that pushes food through Ashlyn's system is gravity. This results in very frequent visits to the emergency room because of severe vomiting and dehydration. In fact , if you don't see Ashlyn with her Team on game day, she is likely in the hospital giving the doctors her "thumbs up."
If you have ever seen the movie, "Miracles From Heaven" starring Jennifer Garner, the movie follows the true story of a young girl with Gastroparesis. She received treatment from Doctor Samuel Nurko, at Children's Hospital in Boston. Very few doctors specialize in Gastroparesis and Dr. Nurko is the best in the world. Ashlyn has a specialist in Washington but he is talking about inserting a feeding tube and we are hoping and praying that other treatment options are available.
My husband, Justin, and I were a middle class, two income, family with two children. I am a graduate of UMBC but I am no longer able to work because my days are spent taking Ashlyn to her various therapies and doctor appointments. Justin works very hard full time as an exterminator for a small company but he doesn't make much money and he is subject to being laid off during bad weather. The bottom line is that, for now, we are on public assistance and, as humiliating as it is to publicly ask for help, we have no choice.
Dr. Nurko has accepted Ashlyn as a patient and we have been told that she will have her first appointment either March or April 2017. For this reason, the primary purpose of this funding request is to help us get Ashlyn to Boston as frequently as she needs to go.
Thank you!
Jennifer Barrett
Organizer
Jennifer Barrett
Organizer
Edgewater, MD
