Helping our dear friend Ashley Nightingale

If you’ve been lucky enough to have our sweet, bright and caring Ashley Nightingale in your personal and/or work life, or her partner Jared and two little babes Audrey 5mos and Gabe 2.5y/o for that matter, you’ll be as devastated as we were to find out that after a long and painful journey of medical tests and symptoms, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Stage III Breast Cancer earlier this month.

Ashley, Jared and the kids purchased a home in Nova Scotia right after Audrey was born August 28th and moved home in September. Ash noticed and reported symptoms in early October and last week came the news we’d been dreading and suspecting for months. The official name of her disease is Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) and it does not present as most breast cancers; it is one of the most misdiagnosed and understudied forms of breast cancer accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancers in the world. Because of this, coupled with the pandemic, no family doctor and the chronically increasing shortcomings of our health care system, Ashley has endured months of excruciating pain and discouragement… the inconclusive biopsies, ER visits, medication trials and hospital admissions have been endless… simply watching from the sidelines has been devastating. Fast forward to February, they have decided to stay in NS for her treatments, as she has been teamed up with a leading oncologist and are ready to fight.

At 36 years old, with a new house (under renovation), new baby, toddler and a host of dreams for the future, this is not the news any of us can imagine. BUT, now with an official diagnosis (outlining a disease that is very rapid and difficult to treat), Ashley is ready to take this battle on, would you expect anything less from this beautiful, strong-willed firecracker?

She’s has gained a strong team of medical supports and began chemotherapy Feb 7th... and despite having had a terrifying and discouraging journey thus far, she and her troops are suiting up for the battle of their life- with determination and the strongest will.

Getting sick shouldn't create financial devastation, and though Nova Scotian patients have access to chemotherapy and medical treatment, research shows the widespread sacrifices that patients and families have to make following a significant diagnosis like this one are substantial. So many areas of day-to-day life need attention, and even the financially stable patients simply don't have the resources to keep up.

With the news spreading, so many have asked ‘how can we help’. We have talked with Ash and Jared to find the best way folks can help them and their children during the challenging months ahead. They are heading into significant expenses, while thankfully some are covered by health insurance, many are not (from over and above medication coverage, support tools to child care), the cancer journey is an expensive one, and layer in Ash is on maternity leave with nominal income right now – unforeseen expenses have begun to pile up!

Here are the ways we can support them;

1. Help cover health care costs. Over the counter medications, treatment shots, medication copayments and prescriptions/dental/massage are already overwhelming as insurance limitations are already evident.

2. Give the ability to substantially increase childcare support as Ashley is on maternity leave but won’t be able to care for baby Audrey and Gabe in the same capacity. Her first cycle of chemo has begun to deplete her already dwindling energy and pain tolerance. We need her to focus on her treatment, family and health, nothing else.

3. Meal Preparation & Deliveries for when they need to fuel this fight and focus on their mental and physical health, (…they have a new freezer on the way and we’re promising to keep it fully stocked!) SIGN UP HERE: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/yvg3ym

4. Travel Expenses (Treatments & Appointments are 1 hour away from home) + Gas, Parking & Meals on the road add up quickly.

The best way to accomplish the above is to donate via this Go Fund Me page or sign up for in person support or meal deliveries. No donation is too small, all will go directly to the items above to support Ashley, Jared, Gabriel and Audrey on this traumatic journey. So PLEASE, join us. Pray, meditate, hope, send healing vibes or whatever else you do along with us. We are going to wholeheartedly support Ashley and her family to beat this, starting now.

Finally, on behalf of their family, we would like to thank each and every one of you who have reached out with best wishes, sent flowers, meals and cards. Now we turn to the uncomfortable but necessary side of such an illness, the expenses. Thank you in advance for any support and we appreciate you joining us in helping them fight.