Hi donors! Nice to virtually introduce myself. My name is Ashleigh (Irish spelling of Ashley). I am a West Point graduate and Army combat veteran who is suffering from unknown-cause inoperable and extreme fibroid tumors that developed during service, which began severely impacting my health with continued growth, and are life-threatening, causing at least 5 hospitalizations and blood transfusions needed so far. I am requesting help affording medical bills to receive a full-uterus transplant, which would remove all of the tumors at once and allow for a full and complete recovery while preserving my fertility (because this severe condition was not genetically caused, my husband and I would like to have children - he is still in active military service). I have always been very active, a healthy eater, and consistently in pursuit of personal and professional development and volunteer opportunities - so I am an ideal candidate for the transplant if I can afford the medical fees.

The fibroids are extremely detrimental to my health and have greatly impacted my activity levels recently with multiple blood transfusions needed, pressure on all abdominal organs increasing, blood flow restriction and clot risks, and doctors have said this will worsen if I do not have them removed. The transplant would accomplish this in full.

More background on me - I served in combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan earning multiple Bronze Medals and Combat Action badge (my husband also, as well as Rangers service). I grew up in the mountains, from a farming family that worked in government jobs by day and ran a sustainable small farm and horse rescue/retraining business in their personal time, as well as lots of volunteer work for local government and education. After military service, I pursued my MBA with the GI Bill and began a successful financial services career, but I cannot sustain full time work with the medical impacts of the fibroids. I hope to have children soon after the transplant and return to more productive pursuits and my volunteer activities while bringing my children into the world and raising them to be the best people they can be. I’ve volunteered in horse retraining, youth swim instruction, youth sailing instruction, standardized test tutoring for veterans and military members, small business kickstarters, and special needs and therapeutic riding. I love the outdoors and hope to raise my family to be active and pursue their passions while helping others experience activities that may normally be out of financial reach, as I was blessed to experience them.

Funds will be used 100% for transplant testing, medical prep/treatment costs, donor expense and the surgical transplant cost.