Ashley's Journey and Battle with Cancer

Hi everyone,

My name is Hannah and I've known Ashley for 8 years. We started as co-workers and quickly became friends. I've seen Ashley overcome many obstacles throughout the years, as she is not one to back down from a challenge.

Ash is a 30 year old mom of 3 beautiful kiddos, Ellie (8), Kinslee (3), and Zachary (9 months). She is also Joe's fiance. She is an amazing mom, friend, daughter, sister and just overall gal. She cares for everyone as if they're her family.

As many know, Ashley finished chemo on July 8, 2024 after a battle with Stage 4 Diffuse large B cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), a type of non-hodgkins Lymphoma.

Shortly after having her son, Zachary, doctors discovered masses all throughout her chest and body, it was quickly spreading. In true Ashley fashion, she faced it head on and fought through 6 rounds of chemo, two of them being hospitalized. In May 2024 on her scan, there was only one small spot still showing near her heart.

Fast forward to September 2024, Ash went in for a follow up scan, and the cancer is not gone, but it is unfortunately growing. The spot on her chest by her heart was no longer pea size, but is now baseball size. The unfortunate part, she kind of had a hunch. She felt it, but wanted to shift her mindset that every discomfort was cancer, but unfortunately her hunch was true; the cancer was back.

This 2nd battle on her cancer journey isn't going to allow Ash to do treatment in the area. She will have to travel to Mayo and won't be able to leave the vicinity of the hospital, so as you can imagine, the bills are going to be piling on. She is looking into AirBNB's and Joe is out of PTO from her first go at this.

Ash has been authentic and real about her journey. She has been an open book with how she is doing, feeling, how she is processing- all of it. Asking for help is not easy for her, but as her support team, we know it is necessary.

Let's show Ash and Joe that they don't have to take this on alone. Let's let Ash worry about keeping her body strong and kicking cancers butt, once and for all. There is a group also looking to coordinate assistance with child care and weekly care for the house to allow Joe to be as available as he can for the kiddos and Ashley. Let us know if you're able to help with any additional support outside of this.

Anything will help. If you can't donate, please share to get her story out there.

Some people prefer venmo: @AshleyPom

A post from Ashley:

The ball is rolling…

Biopsy is at 6am next Monday morning.

I have sixteen appointments with Mayo in Rochester, most of them being all next week.

Most of the appointments are to confirm that my body can handle the Car T Cell therapy ( the nurse I spoke to made it sound promising.)

October 23rd they will get the cells from my body that they need. It then takes 15-18 days to get the modified cells back. In those 15-18 days I have no choice but to face chemo, once again. After those days are up, I will do a couple more days of chemo, then they will start the cell therapy/transplant.

From the start of chemo until the end of observation, I am expected to be in Rochester for 37 days. During those 37 days, I will have to be watched/cared for 24/7. I will check into Mayo daily to watch symptoms and side affects, if I get any then I will be admitted.

I was told that I would need to stay in an Air BnB or hotel, I’m not allowed to be more than 30 minutes away from the hospital. The nurse today stated that the manufacture of the cells, usually helps with room & board… I am praying that is the case for us, because holy expensive.

I’m stressed to the max. The sadness has turned into planning. Who’s gonna take the kids to school? Who’s gonna get them? Who’s gonna take Bubbers to daycare. All of the things. I’m stressing out about work & my clients having to go that long without me (if they are even able to). Joe used all of his PTO up during round one of this, so any time off work will be unpaid. There’s just so many factors & things to figure out…

On top of all that, I am hoping I can make it until mid November. I’m already having to take pain meds & I’m short of breath by doing the smallest of things. I just don’t know how in the heck this is gonna work while my cancer is growing.

I’m starting to become a tiny bit more of myself.. & become a tiny bit less sad and angry. This is such a hard pill to swallow.

I created a caring bridge & will give my “caregivers” the username and password so they can update everyone on how I’m doing with the therapy, when I’m unable.

As much as I am sad, I am also ready. The closer I am to beginning this, the closer I am to finishing it ( I fricken hope.)

Love & appreciate y’all, so much.

And we love you, Ash. Let's do this together!