Support For Ashley

We are heartbroken for our dear friends Ashley and Bill Golden. Bill was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year and fought as hard as he could. He fought for his love, he fought to stay with Ashley. He did not want to leave her and made that crystal clear until he drew his last breath. His biggest fear was never his pain or his discomfort, his fear was leaving the love of his life.

Bill was a teacher, a coach, a home health caregiver, an athlete, a musician, and a collector. He had a very unique and special way about him, especially his quick wit and sense of humor. He was incredibly passionate about his work and cared deeply for his clients. He often remained very close with their families, even after their work together had ended. It is this deep connection to those he cared for, that created the special bonds he had with the nurses and doctors who eventually cared for him.

Ash and Bill did not have enough time together on this earth. They met later in their lives, during a time they needed one another the most. There was a special and unique connection, one they felt instantly. Once Bill moved to Massachusetts to live with Ash, she described it as finally having her true home, Bill was her 'home'. They shared a love of being by the ocean. They always looked forward to little get-aways in Connecticut and the Cape, walking the shoreline, collecting shells and sea glass. They both had a love for art and Bill introduced Ash to his incredible world of music. He encouraged her to play new instruments and sing with his closest friends and bandmates. They had wonderful traditions that may have seemed small and insignifant to those who did not know them, but were incredibly meaningful and sweet to those who did; pizza night every single Saturday, additions to the rubber ducky collection, a new sloth hanging from a baby christmas tree, or a random text with a grrrr or meow.

Ash is surrounded by family and friends who have completely enveloped her with love, food, donations and emotional support. She has spent the last few days reminiscing about the time she and Bill had with one another (albeit way too brief), hearing incredible stories from Bill’s old friends and bandmates, listening to friends play music and relish in all the eccentricities that made Bill who he was. The love she and Bill had for one another was so strong and so pure, that it continues to carry her forward. Please consider a donation of any size to help Ash navigate the next steps on her path forward.