Donation protected
Many of you know Ashley Reid, but if you don’t, I would like to tell you about her and her story. You have probably seen her around Carstairs or Airdrie, as she is an active member of these communities. Currently, Ashley works at the Carstairs Veterinary Clinic, and has recently started 2 businesses in Carstairs, the Pawsitive Play Lounge and the Pawsitive Haven Animal Rescue. She is an amazing mom to a beautiful daughter and a rambunctious son! The volunteer and charity work she does is immense. Her ability to give back to her communities and the people and animals around her is unmatched! These days, Ashley dedicates most of her volunteer work to the Pawsitive Haven Animal Rescue and has rescued over 200 dogs and 40 cats in 8 months! Every Christmas, since her daughter Brooklyn was born, Ashley takes and distributes toys to the children at the Calgary Children’s Hospital. In the past, Ashley ran the Mountain View Moms Group in Airdrie, she planned fun and free events for families. She also ran Preston’s Purses (named for her son), they would fill purses with socks gloves and toiletries for homeless women and distribute the purses to the homeless shelters.
Ashley Reid has given back so much to so many people and animals, but now Ashley needs us! For those of you that know Ashley, you know of the struggles she is having with her heart. I am going to attach below, in Ashley’s own words, exactly what is going on with her medically.
“I am scared… I was born with a heart condition. I had regular appointments at the Children’s Hospital. When I was 13 years old, I was in a swimming pool with a mask on and it got stuck to my face and I couldn’t breathe. That is when the palpitations started. They lasted 20 minutes, then an hour, and they would last for a full day and would completely knock me on my ass. When I was 18 it had gotten so bad, they gave me 2 options. I could take meds my whole life or I could have surgery where they burn the opening of my heart a little bigger so that my blood would flow through easier. The surgery was based on severity and was currently at a 2 year wait list.
They gave me a heart monitor to take home and wear, and when I had heart palpitations, I had to call in to a phone line and play it back for them. They moved me to the top of that 2 year wait list, and I was in for surgery later that week. I remember being so scared, my bood pressure was so high that when the nurse put an IV in me, blood shot out the other end. I made it through surgery, and everything has been good since then. Until now.
On Saturday October 12th, 2019 I went out with my best friend and had an amazing time. On Sunday, I woke up with palpitations… I thought they would go away after a while, but they didn’t. On Monday night, I ended up going to the hospital. They said I was throwing PVC’s. I felt a little tired and nauseous. They told me it might take a couple of days, but they should go away, and to take some time off work and relax.
Thursday, I was going stir crazy, so I went to get the mail and to stop by and see the girls. I felt faint, and when I got in the door, I was hot, sweaty and flush, so I sat down. I passed out for a short period of time. Thankfully my girlfriend agreed to take me to the hospital. When I got there they took my blood pressure and it was crazy low. I was still throwing PVC’s. The got me into a bed within 5 minutes and had me hooked up to every machine. They did bloodwork, an x-ray and an echo.
It turns out since my last echo in May things have drastically changed. One of my valves is starting to fail, and blood is starting to flow back into my heart. I am going to need open heart surgery to replace my valve. My current valve could be okay for another 6 months to a year, but it will fail.
As soon as the doctor said I will need surgery and a valve replacement, my heart jumped into my throat. I am 34 years old and I needing a valve replaced?? I was the youngest person in the ward at the hospital. I have always had issues with my heart,but I have never really been scared. Now I am scared.”
Having a heart condition and requiring open heart surgery, takes more than just a toll on a person’s body, it is also going to take a toll financially. Ashley is going to require expensive medication, beyond what benefits will cover. She is going to have to take a minimum of 2 months off work when the surgery takes place, not to mention the days she will miss leading up to the surgery, due to appointments and just not feeling well. Many of her appointments will have to take place in Edmonton, which will require time off work, travel expenses, and hotel and parking costs. The stress of having a heart condition along with a coming open heart surgery is enough, and the added stress of how she is going to get by and keep a roof over her and her kids head, and food on their plates, is adding a massive amount of stress to her already strained heart. We can not take the stress away due to her heart condition, but maybe we can help take away some of this huge financial burden she is experiencing.
Ashley has given so much to so many, and now it is time for us to give back to her. Please consider donating to Ashley’s gofundme and help her make it through this hard time.
Ashley Reid has given back so much to so many people and animals, but now Ashley needs us! For those of you that know Ashley, you know of the struggles she is having with her heart. I am going to attach below, in Ashley’s own words, exactly what is going on with her medically.
“I am scared… I was born with a heart condition. I had regular appointments at the Children’s Hospital. When I was 13 years old, I was in a swimming pool with a mask on and it got stuck to my face and I couldn’t breathe. That is when the palpitations started. They lasted 20 minutes, then an hour, and they would last for a full day and would completely knock me on my ass. When I was 18 it had gotten so bad, they gave me 2 options. I could take meds my whole life or I could have surgery where they burn the opening of my heart a little bigger so that my blood would flow through easier. The surgery was based on severity and was currently at a 2 year wait list.
They gave me a heart monitor to take home and wear, and when I had heart palpitations, I had to call in to a phone line and play it back for them. They moved me to the top of that 2 year wait list, and I was in for surgery later that week. I remember being so scared, my bood pressure was so high that when the nurse put an IV in me, blood shot out the other end. I made it through surgery, and everything has been good since then. Until now.
On Saturday October 12th, 2019 I went out with my best friend and had an amazing time. On Sunday, I woke up with palpitations… I thought they would go away after a while, but they didn’t. On Monday night, I ended up going to the hospital. They said I was throwing PVC’s. I felt a little tired and nauseous. They told me it might take a couple of days, but they should go away, and to take some time off work and relax.
Thursday, I was going stir crazy, so I went to get the mail and to stop by and see the girls. I felt faint, and when I got in the door, I was hot, sweaty and flush, so I sat down. I passed out for a short period of time. Thankfully my girlfriend agreed to take me to the hospital. When I got there they took my blood pressure and it was crazy low. I was still throwing PVC’s. The got me into a bed within 5 minutes and had me hooked up to every machine. They did bloodwork, an x-ray and an echo.
It turns out since my last echo in May things have drastically changed. One of my valves is starting to fail, and blood is starting to flow back into my heart. I am going to need open heart surgery to replace my valve. My current valve could be okay for another 6 months to a year, but it will fail.
As soon as the doctor said I will need surgery and a valve replacement, my heart jumped into my throat. I am 34 years old and I needing a valve replaced?? I was the youngest person in the ward at the hospital. I have always had issues with my heart,but I have never really been scared. Now I am scared.”
Having a heart condition and requiring open heart surgery, takes more than just a toll on a person’s body, it is also going to take a toll financially. Ashley is going to require expensive medication, beyond what benefits will cover. She is going to have to take a minimum of 2 months off work when the surgery takes place, not to mention the days she will miss leading up to the surgery, due to appointments and just not feeling well. Many of her appointments will have to take place in Edmonton, which will require time off work, travel expenses, and hotel and parking costs. The stress of having a heart condition along with a coming open heart surgery is enough, and the added stress of how she is going to get by and keep a roof over her and her kids head, and food on their plates, is adding a massive amount of stress to her already strained heart. We can not take the stress away due to her heart condition, but maybe we can help take away some of this huge financial burden she is experiencing.
Ashley has given so much to so many, and now it is time for us to give back to her. Please consider donating to Ashley’s gofundme and help her make it through this hard time.
Organizer and beneficiary
Cassidy Bosiak
Organizer
Carstairs, AB
Ashley Reid
Beneficiary