Donate to Ease the Worries of a Loving Mother

Hello, friends,

I’m reaching out today with a heavy heart, hoping for your understanding and support. Many of you may know me as someone who has always been there for others, offering help whenever I could. But today, it’s me who is in need. For years, I’ve lived in isolation, finding it easier to withdraw and avoid sharing the difficult parts of my life. Facebook, to me, has always been a place for sharing joy and good news, and for a long time, I’ve felt like there hasn’t been much of that in my world. However, I can’t do this alone anymore, and I need to ask for help.

The past few months have been incredibly challenging. While my health has deteriorated, and the toll of my ongoing battle with cancer has become overwhelming, I remain full of faith and fight! After a recent round of chemotherapy, I found myself hospitalized, needing both platelet and blood transfusions. Just two weeks later, I needed more platelets again. My PET scans on December 3rd and 4th revealed devastating news: my cancer has spread, doubling in size in my liver and now reaching my skull. These results, along with the pain on newly forming tumors in my left hip, L2, and T6, I succumbed to a bout of depression and during that time, my legs atrophied. The result was two weeks in the hospital and ongoing home therapy. However, UPDATE: after three months on Keytruda, the cancer in my liver is GONE! This has renewed my fighting spirit!

Along with the medical challenges, I’m also facing severe financial difficulties and a loss of my transportation. Due to changes in my Social Security disability benefits and food stamps, I am struggling to meet basic needs. My food stamp benefits, which used to be $59 a month, have now been reduced to just $23—barely enough to get by. To make matters worse, my Medicaid coverage now requires me to pay 82% of my disability income in out-of-pocket costs. Living with cancer is hard enough, but navigating the financial strain has made each day feel even more difficult.

The hardest part of all this is knowing that I don’t have much to leave for my children to set them up for success in this crazy world where the American dream is becoming more and more unattainable for their generation. I look into the eyes of my children, and it breaks my heart to think I won’t be there for the big moments in their lives—seeing my son graduate, watching him get married, or meeting my first grandchild. I can’t change that, but what I can do is try to ease their burden once I’m gone. I want to leave behind something that will help them as they navigate the difficult years ahead—money for education, housing, and living expenses as they cope with the loss of their mother.

This is where I’m asking for your help. I’ve never been one to beg, but right now, I’m humbly asking for any support you can offer. Whether it’s $5, $10, or more, every contribution counts. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing my story with others who might be able to help. My goal is to raise enough to provide my children with a little financial cushion so they don’t have to face the world alone.

In the past, when I’ve been able, I’ve made small resin hearts with mustard seeds to remind others that faith, even the size of a mustard seed, can move mountains. I am reaching out now, using the tools I have at my disposal, hoping for some support. Your kindness and generosity will make a world of difference during this difficult time.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support you can offer. God bless you all.

With gratitude, Ashley

Funds raised will be used to provide financial support for my children, helping cover educational expenses, housing costs, and living expenses in the years following my passing.