Help Ashley Fight Aggressive Breast Cancer

Dear friends, family, and compassionate strangers,

My name is Diane, and I’m Ashley’s stepmom. I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of Ashley’s life for over 16 years. I’m setting up this GoFundMe on her behalf to help her and her family navigate the most challenging time of their lives.

Ashley’s Story

Ashley is a vibrant 31-year-old wife and the loving mother of a sweet 3-year-old boy, Hayden. Less than two months ago, Ashley discovered a lump in her breast. After a series of mammograms, ultrasounds, blood work, and weeks of uncertainty, she received the devastating diagnosis of an aggressive and rare form of breast cancer: HER2+ Invasive Ductal Carcinoma with negative hormone receptors (ER/PR-negative), a condition that affects only 4% of women diagnosed with breast cancer.

This diagnosis has turned Ashley’s world upside down, and she and her family are now facing an incredibly challenging journey.

Given Ashley’s young age and the nature of her diagnosis, her medical team is taking a fast-acting approach. She is set to begin chemotherapy next week, and her treatment plan will span over a year. It includes chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery, and possibly radiation therapy. This will be an incredibly tough journey for Ashley – physically, mentally, and financially.

The Challenge

Like many young people, Ashley didn’t anticipate needing life insurance, critical illness insurance, or private health coverage so early in life. Ashley and her husband are both self-employed, meaning they are not eligible for caregiver or unemployment benefits. Unfortunately, she had not secured this coverage before her diagnosis and is now considered uninsurable due to her condition. This leaves Ashley and her family facing significant out-of-pocket expenses.

Many of Ashley’s treatments and medications are not fully covered by Alberta Health Care (AHC). Pre- and post-chemotherapy medications and certain critical treatments must be paid for out-of-pocket, with some doses costing upwards of $1,700 each, and most requiring 6 to 8 doses. With multiple medications required, Ashley and her family are now facing significant out-of-pocket medical costs. On top of this, Ashley’s husband, Kelly, will need to take time off work to support Ashley during her treatment and recovery, which means lost income for their family. With his focus on caring for Ashley, they will also face increased childcare expenses for Hayden during this difficult time.

If you’ve ever had the chance to meet Ashley, you know how kind and caring she is. She’s someone who will drop everything at a moment’s notice to help others in need – even now, in the middle of her own battle. Her compassion and empathy shine through in everything she does, always showing up for friends, family, and strangers alike. Now, it’s our turn to help her.

How You Can Help

I’m setting up this GoFundMe in hopes of easing the financial burden on Ashley, Kelly, and Hayden. Your donations will go directly toward:

• Out-of-pocket medical costs for treatments and medications

• Childcare expenses for Hayden

• Daily living expenses to support the family while Kelly takes time off work to care for Ashley

All funds raised through this GoFundMe will be deposited into a separate bank account in Ashley’s name, specifically set up for this purpose. Every dollar will be used to support Ashley’s treatment, care, and her family during this difficult time.

Any donation, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated and will help Ashley focus on what truly matters: fighting this cancer and spending precious time with her family. Please consider sharing Ashley’s story to spread the word, and keep Ashley and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting Ashley and her family during this incredibly difficult time. Your kindness, love, and generosity mean the world to Ashley, Kelly, and Hayden.

Much love,

Diane