Please help cover Ashley’s funeral costs!!

Most of you have been following my sister’s story pretty closely and we’re finally getting some answers (although, not the answers we’d hoped for) and the medical bills are stacking up. She has been diagnosed with multiple Myeloma (a cancer in her bone marrow) which has caused the amyloidosis that damaged her heart. So many of y’all have asked me how to help her and lessening the blow of the financial burden is one way we can all come together and support her right now.  So please share this with your family and friends because every penny we raise will help them more than you know! Continued prayers are greatly appreciated too! 

Here’s her story...directly from her:

On April 5th I went to the ER and they admitted me to the hospital because of severe swelling in my legs and abdomen. I had been having issues on and off since September. They figured out my heart was Enlarged and my enzymes were elevated. They ran an X-ray on my chest and a CT scan on my chest and stomach. There was no fluid around my heart but there was fluid in my stomach and water retention. The started me on Lasix (Furosemide) to flush my system and get rid of the water retention. They admitted me to the hospital. I was in the hospital for three days were they ran an EKG, a ultrasound on my heart. And several blood test. They also did a ultrasound on my stomach and gallbladder to see what’s going on with the nausea and swelling with my stomach. After running all those test they figured out my heart was working out about 45% and the muscles in the heart wall are thicker than it should be. They sent me home because there was nothing more they could do at that time. They schedule an MRI on the 14th of April. Monday the 19th The cardiologist called me and explained that my heart was working at 45%, heart muscles being to thick (which we knew) they also discovered there was a good bit of scare tissue on my heart. With all of that and the other issues I’ve been having dizzy spells, nausea, bloating I needed to be admitted to the hospital so they could figure out why this was happening and how to treat it. I got a biopsy on my heart Wednesday, they tested that and it came back as Amyloidosis, they are sending that off to be tested to figure out what kind it is. Then they did a bone marrow biopsy Thursday, they are sending that out to the Mayo Clinic to get a final result but the rapid test showed that it may be it looks like it is probably in my bone marrow. He said if they find it is in my bone marrow that tells them it is systemic and it is a cancer. The chemotherapy is the not the traditional chemotherapy, I will not be nauseated or lose my hair. They said it is usually pretty well tolerated. If it is AL or just in the heart or systemic. Please pray specifically that it is not in my marrow! If it is the bone marrow then I may require a marrow transplant procedure later down the road. Others require heart transplant and some patients need both but he said we aren't Anywhere near those types of decisions. He did say if they need to engage doctors from Boston or Rochester who are experienced at doing both they will. After running one final blood test and fitting me for the life vest (an external defibrillator) They got me all fitted for the vest and I am heading home! Waiting on the other test results on both the heart biopsy and bone marrow biopsy. Keep praying. I will try my best to keep everyone posted!


UPDATE. I have to get labs done at 7:15am on Wednesday then doctor appt with hematologist same day at 8:00 then at 9:00 I will get my first chemotherapy. They said I will need to be there 4 hours so they can see whether she reacts well to the treatment. The infusion is done through the belly button area. The chemotherapy is targeting the amyloid cells. I will have one treatment per week then it goes to once every other week then once per month. Not sure how long each phase lasts. I am asking that question at my appointment. I will get Benedryl before the treatment and I have to take Singular the night before the treatment plus I will take a steroid and something else at home if needed(only if I have a adverse reaction). They said the first round can be rough so please send prayers. I haven’t heard from the bone marrow or heart biopsy yet, hopefully we will get those test results soon. The rapid test heart biopsy was just to determine it is Amyloid then the rest was sent off to determine what type of Amyloid it is. Then the bone marrow biopsy will determine if the Amyloid is in my bone marrow. If it is then it is a type of cancer but the treatment is the same regardless. So we are going to continue to pray for positive test results. Thank you for everyone’s continued prayers and support. I will let everyone know once I found out about the biopsy results. 

Update: The hematologist told me that I have multiple myeloma which is a cancer in my bone marrow and this caused the amyloid. The treatment is the same so I got my first treatment today. Then I will have chemo once a week for two months then If I tolerant the checmo well they will be more aggressive with it. The doctor said this is NOT a death sentence and my prognosis is good. He said I am young and other than the heart quite healthy. This is the doctor who has consistently given the very worst case scenario so this is good! He said I most likely will require a bone marrow transplant later down the road but they will use my own marrow. They remove it then treat it with medication and after it has been treated they will complete the transplant. He said while that is not pleasant the rejection issue isn't present with my own marrow. He assured me that I have a great team of doctors who are working together and he is confident they can get this in remission. They are starting the treatments mildly to make sure my heart will tolerate them so another plus! Then Friday I have a appointment with my cardiologist. Please Keep praying for healing and pray for my doctors!!!!! Thank you again for all the love and support through this