Ashley Williams is a 31 year old mother to one amazing little girl named Payton (5) and two step sons Jonah and Joseph. Ashley has many different labels. Mother, daughter, wife, co-worker, friend but the most important role she plays is fighter. She was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer on 9/11/2012, at the young age of 26. And Ashley managed to do what Ashley does best, fight. She underwent numerous treatments and a year of chemo and radiation. She ended up having a double mastectomy and went into remission. She was finally cancer free. She continued raising Payton, and fell in love with her now husband, Joe and his two sons. She was finally allowed to just be; to live, love, laugh. The things most of us take for granted, Ashley had a second chance at.
 
Unfortunately, in January of 2016 Ashley got the news every one fears. The cancer came back, and this time it was coming back tenfold. Her breast cancer had traveled to her brain, lower back, sternum, lungs, and lymph nodes. She continues to fight; every day, every minute, every second. In the months since re-diagnosis, she has undergone two gamma knife surgeries on her brain, steroids, and chemotherapy.
 
She most recently had a grand mal seizure at her home in November. Joe by her side they rushed her to the ER. The cancer in her brain had begun to swell and she is now considered a Stage IIII. Cancer has continued to break down her body but never her spirit. She has continued to be her smart, witty, and sarcastic self. She has never lost sight of what is important in life.  
 
 Ashley has to deal with questions no person should ever have to answer or explain to his or her child. Payton knows mommy is ill. Payton will always question why it had to be her mom that got sick, but she never has to question her mother’s strength or perseverance.
 
In regards to work, Ashley has only taken sick days for necessary appointments. She came in two days after her brain surgery. She came in two days after a grand mal seizure. She has never sat back and allowed this to defeat her. However, since the seizure she has been unable to drive herself per doctor’s orders. With the help of her loving dad, mom and step dad, and her husband Joe they are able to get her where she needs to be. Payton also has the loving support of her dad, Brian and step mom, Tiffany. Regardless of all the road blocks Ashley has faced she has never stopped trying to live a normal life.
 
Joe and Ashley are a busy couple; raising their three children and working full time. She has worked as a clerk and probation officer for The City of Huron and Joe, a former USMC, has been a police officer for the Huron Police Dept. since 2002. It’s not easy to ask for help, they are hard workers and providers, hence why I am asking for them with their consent. She has all the love and support she can ask for. Unfortunately, we can’t predict what life has in store for us. Ashley has enough sick hours to get her through past the end of the year but she has finally decided to resign from her position at work. Obviously, with that decision comes the concern of finances. She has a lot of life left in her and we want her to be able to spend it how she wants to; with her parents, Joe, Payton, and his sons. Any assistance would lessen a burden on them.
 
We are all just outsiders, we have no idea what her daily struggles are, nor could we begin to fathom the emotional, physical, and mental toll cancer has taken on Ashley. But as an outsider; we know what love, strength, and determination looks like. Ashley embraces all of those traits in stride, she is a fighter through and through…“She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her away, she adjusted her sails.”