Hi, my name is Ashley. Ash to some!

This is very hard for me to do. If you know me, you know I hate asking for help. Hence why I am doing this nearly 2 years later. But… unfortunately, after years of some really bad luck, I feel stuck.

In June of 2022, I discovered a lump in my breast. My PCP ordered a mammogram, which came back abnormal. An ultrasound was ordered, and the radiologist was concerned.

A biopsy that cost a few thousand dollars later, I found out it was benign. 6 months later, it had grown substantially. They told me I would have to go to meet with a surgeon ASAP, concerned it may be cancerous at this point. I cried on the ultrasound table.

I was overwhelmed. Not only did I possibly have cancer, but while all this was starting to happen to me, my ex-husband chose to cheat on me, citing one of the reasons that he was overwhelmed was my medical expenses. He had suggested at first not even getting the initial biopsy due to the cost. So at that breaking point, we’re in the process of getting a divorce. So now on top of medical bills, there were now legal fees I was scrambling to pay. I had to start moving out of the apartment we shared. I made substantially less than him, so I had to take out a loan.

I met with the surgeon who did a more thorough biopsy, and after another thousand or so dollars told me I had a rare disease called Rosai-Dorfman. So rare, that only an oncologist that practiced an hour away treated patients with it.

And so after several more biopsies, months of visits, bloodwork, CT scans (which showed another mass on my thyroid) and rounds of steroids that unfortunately did nothing, the mass in my breast had grown so much that my only option was to have surgery. But since the mass was so invasive, I also I needed to have complete reconstruction of my breasts… that insurance would not cover. Enter the plastic surgeon, my second loan, and care credit card.

On August 8th, 2023, I underwent surgery. After $60k+ worth in surgical procedures, along with thousands in legal and moving expenses… here I am… still trying to pay everything off on my own. I’ve to put other aspects of my health on the back burner. It feels like there is no end most days.

I am desperately trying to rebuild my life, but these medical expenses are holding me back.

Anything helps at this point. I really appreciate any support given ♥️

Thank you for listening.

Ashley

You can read about Rosai-Dorfman here!