Ashley's new heart journey

My beautiful and very energetic niece, Ashley Brown was born with multiple congenital heart defects including AVSD. In non-medical terms, this means she was born with two holes in her heart. She has undergone 4 open heart surgeries along with multiple valve replacements to help but the doctors are unable to fix anymore at this time. She is now 24 years old.

On September 19th her Melody valve, which is her pulmonary valve was replaced, giving her pulmonary (breathing) relief. Although the doctors helped the one valve, other portions of her heart cannot be operated on anymore and she has been moved up on the national heart transplant list to a level 2 recipient. Ashley is now hospitalized until a heart becomes available. She has had to put her college courses and her work as a LPN at a veterans nursing home, on hold while she waits for a new heart. Ashley’s parents and brother live 4 hours away and extended family is even further. In an effort for a family member to always be near her during this waiting period, the rotation of the family visits and related housing costs are adding up quickly.

I am starting this fundraiser to defray the costs of temporary housing for family members, medical out of pocket costs as well as Ashley’s home living costs that she is still incurring during this hospitalization. Any contributions will go directly for these costs. She is a kind, funny, wonderful and caring young woman. Please help me to support her and the family while waiting for her new heart!

#AshleysNewHeart