Help Ashley Recover from Brain Injury
On January 7th, one week after beginning her new career as a clinical research assistant, Ashley became ill with Covid-19 despite always taking precautions to avoid the virus. Having become pregnant with their first child just before the start of the pandemic, Ashley and her fiance, Jeff, had always done their part to keep their unborn child and others safe. Unfortunately, Ashley contracted the virus shortly after she returned to work from maternity leave. Everyone was hopeful she would make a quick recovery due to her young age and healthy lifestyle. However, she was not able to easily fight off the virus due to a compromised immune system and became severely ill with Covid-19 for months. She was bedridden and unable to care for herself. She relied on Jeff as the sole caretaker for herself and their infant son. She sought medical care several times at the ER. Despite her condition, she was never admitted overnight and had to fight the virus at home.
Eventually, the virus caused an acute hypoxic event compromising oxygen supply to the brain resulting in brain injury. She suffered brain damage to her frontal lobe, parietal lobes, occipital lobe, temporal lobes, and thalamus. Her brain injury has greatly affected her quality of life and ability to care for their precious, now one-year-old son. With Jeff working overtime to try to catch up on bills, Ashley relies on her parents to travel from an hour away for daily help. Her brain injury has indefinitely damaged her vision, causing her to be unable to drive, and her debilitating symptoms have kept her from returning to her career.
Ashley was always independent and full of life. Anyone that knows her knows how much she loved staying active and her outgoing, friendly personality. She has always been a hard worker and had previously worked for Starbucks for eleven years as a barista and eventually an assistant store manager. While working full-time, she also attended school to finish her bachelor’s of science. She dedicated herself to putting a smile on everyone's face and adding joy to their day, no matter who you were. Ashley never knew a stranger and treated everyone as a friend. Her illness and brain injury has been devastating for the young family. She provided half of the household income and the couple has used all of their savings and financial resources to try to keep from losing the roof over their heads. They are left without the ability to afford medical bills, rehabilitation, and treatment for Ashley to recover.
My name is Tavia, and I’ve been friends with Ashley for over ten years. I, along with their family and friends, are reaching out to you in support of Ashley and the Miller family. After her diagnosis, they learned of a renowned neuro-ophthalmology clinic in Illinois and hyperbaric treatment options that may be able to restore some of Ashley’s quality of life. They are desperate for her to regain her health so she can be the wife and mother she always dreamed of being.
Please consider donating or sharing their story with others.
The family has a Venmo account @Jeff-Miller-428 or you can donate through the GoFundMe website. Your donations are sincerely appreciated by Ashley and Jeff as a gesture of kindness and empathy.