I wasn't sure about making this page, but a few friends convinced me that there's nothing wrong with asking for a little help, so that's what I'm here doing, asking for help. My name is Ashley. I'm a 41-year-old single mother of 2 boys. One is a sophomore in college, and one is a freshman in high school, and they are my world. It's me and them against the world, which makes everything so much more difficult when it comes to my health.

I've been fighting for my disability for years now, being denied time after time. I've been sick for 24 years. I've had fibromyalgia since I was 17. I now also have arthritis, neuropathy, and sciatica. Sometimes I don't even know which one is hurting worse because they're all fighting to take over my body, and I'm fighting back, but it's a struggle. I'm having to use a walker to even get around my house, but I know my mother would turn in her grave if I ever gave up, so that's not an option.

Five years ago, I collapsed and couldn't breathe and was rushed to the hospital to find out I had to have open-heart surgery right then to stay alive, and in the midst of COVID, so I had to do it alone. I had to have my microvalve replaced because it wasn't allowing enough oxygen to get to my lungs, so my oxygen level would read 100, but I couldn't breathe. There was a 50/50 chance I wouldn't come out of that, so I thank God every day that I did. But a few months after that, I had heart failure. Then, three years ago, I collapsed again in front of my son, having a major stroke, and when I woke up, they told me my baby saved my life. Six months after that, I had a second stroke, and this year alone, in January, I had a massive heart attack and had to have a stent put on the other side of my heart. Then in May, I had a third stroke.

I've recently found out there is some type of white mass trying to take over my brain with no real explanation of what it is. They've also found some type of autoimmune deficiency but are not sure which one it is. Even with all that, they've still denied me disability. It's like they're looking for a death date. Well, I've almost died three times, once with rigor mortis starting to set in my hip, and God brought me through all of this, so trust and believe when I say I'm thankful and grateful. I know God gives his toughest battles to his toughest soldiers, but it is so hard trying to play tough through all of this alone.

So, I'm just asking for some help. Anything, and I mean anything, would help. There is a picture of all the medications I have to take on a daily basis to stay alive, one being a Lovenox shot to my stomach twice a day until my INR blood levels go back to the therapeutic safe zone. It leaves black knots, and some of these are three times a day. SMH, who actually wants to have to take all this every day? It's more than depression could ever define.

I'm not really sure how this works, so I'm gonna add my Cash App for anyone wanting to help. It's $pebbles2chocolate. So, thanks for listening to my story, and whatever you do, please pray for me and my kids. We need that more than anything.