Ashley Spalla’s Medical Relief…

My daughter Ashley is the strongest, most determined individual and kind-hearted person I've ever met. She has currently had over 42 surgeries, including losing her entire right hip, and is gearing up for more! She’s had 15 years of constant medical travel to specialists, surgeries, endless tests and procedures, injections, physical therapy, etc. The enormous medical expenses have taken their toll on our family and finances. 

 

Venmo: @Ashley-Spalla

Paypal: Ashley.spalla

 

My name is Heidi. My daughter, Ashley, is a strong-willed, determined and kind-hearted person; constantly trying to help others. She is gearing up for another round of procedures, surgeries and recoveries in the coming weeks and months. It will just add to current and past medical expenses.

 

 

 

Asking for help is not easy for us; however, I'm setting up a fundraiser for Ashley to pay off the medical expenses incurred, out-of-pocket expenses insurance does not cover, and expenses that would make Ashley's quality of life better. Ashley's father, Herb, and I have always tried to help as much as possible and have taken on a lot ourselves. Please know we are extremely grateful for any contribution and support whether financial or in thought/prayer. 

 

Ashley was a healthy athlete and Army veteran and is now a "professional patient." She's had 42 surgeries to date with more needing to be scheduled. The most traumatic of her surgeries being when she lost her right hip in 2017, at only 29 yrs old, to multiple THR (total hip replacement) infections, as well as 1/3rd of her proximal or top of her femur. It left her with the inability to walk without the use of walking aids and that is only useful around the house; for longer distances or times, she needs a wheelchair for mobility. We currently do not have an adaptive-friendly home or even vehicle that can accommodate her needs. As a parent, I could have never prepared myself for the battles that we would face with Ashley's medical journey or the number of expenses that would follow.

 

 

 

Insurance does not cover the cost of “medical tourism” - hotels, food, etc. In 2011, Ashley was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Classical type or cEDS. EDS causes faulty collagen. EDS is a connective tissue disorder. Connective tissue makes up 80% of your body from your tendons, ligaments, bones, eyes and even blood. Collagen is a "glue" that holds the body together and when faulty, the body can fall apart. Unfortunately, Ashley experienced this with surgeries to both hips, right femur, both shoulders, spinal cord stimulator, etc.

 

Ashley has been very stressed with all of the medical finances and what that means for upcoming appointments. She has developed an immune deficiency and needs further testing but the closest doctor is in Chicago which is an overnight stay, at least, with travel to another city to get care at a medical facility that has the specialist she needs. There are no immunologists in Indiana that deal with the chronic and recurrent infections she has faced to date. She needs further answers whether it be at Northwestern Medical or even Mayo Clinic before moving forward with other procedures on her left and only hip as well as replacing her spinal cord stimulator battery which is necessary and used daily for a chronic and extremely painful condition called CRPS or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. One thing is dependent on the next and so on...

 

 

 

The costs of medical travel, food, gas, hotels, bracing, chiropractor, PT, injections, some procedures, some medications, some surgeries deemed "experimental" are out of pocket and extremely expensive. Insurance can be fickle and pay for one thing one month and not another. Continuity of care is extremely important so that means traveling to specialists who are able to care for her specific needs wherever that may be. 

 

No family could prepare for such enormous medical expenses and battles to come their way. Herb and I have tried our bests to meet these battles head on and meet Ashley's needs. Despite all of the surgeries, recoveries, PT, doctor appointments, Ashley has co-administrated a hip dysplasia support group which offers support and education for others with the same condition that started this journey for Ashley. She is also on the board of a non-profit called Miles4Hips that raises awareness and education for hip dysplasia as well as funds for research. Miles4Hips 

 

Thank you all for your kind words, support and generosity, we are so grateful! Every donation and share is greatly appreciated. Please continue to pray for answers, send well wishes, positive thoughts, etc., for Ashley's healing, as well as Herb and I. If you're not in a position to donate, sharing is just as appreciated! 

 

Venmo: Ashley-Spalla

paypal: Ashley.Spalla

 

For current updates:

http://www.instagram.com/ashleyspalla