Support for Ashley & Cadence as They Fight Cancer Together

Life changed in an instant for my dear friend Ashley and her family. Within the same week, both Ashley and her 17-year-old son, Cadence, received the words no family ever wants to hear: “You have cancer.”

Ashley and her husband, Patrick, have built their life around service and sacrifice. Patrick has proudly served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years, recently reenlisting for another three. Together, they’ve raised two incredible boys, Cadence and Atreyu, while navigating the challenges of military life. Currently stationed at Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, VA, they’ve always been the family who figured things out on their own—never the ones to ask for help.

But now, they need us.

This summer, Ashley learned that after 15 years of managing thyroid issues and Hashimoto’s disease, she has thyroid cancer. Her tumor is dangerously close to her vocal cords, and she’s currently waiting on CT scan results to ensure it hasn’t spread. She’s also on a waitlist through the military medical system to have her thyroid removed, though a specialist in Tampa has offered hope—at a cost the family must cover out of pocket.

Just as Ashley was facing this news, her oldest son, 17-year-old Cadence, found a lump in his leg. What doctors thought would be a simple procedure turned into two major surgeries in one month. His sarcoma is so rare that it has been sent to two pathologists and is now at the National Institutes of Health for further study. Cadence is home recovering, but his diagnosis and treatment plan remain uncertain as they await results.

In the span of one week, both mother and son were diagnosed with cancer. The weight of this reality is unimaginable.

This GoFundMe will help cover:

* Specialist fees and deposits for Ashley’s care

* Travel and lodging for treatment out of state

* Medical expenses not covered by insurance

* Support for Cadence’s ongoing treatment and recovery

Ashley says it best: “I never ask for help because that’s just how military life is for us—we figure it out. But now, we can’t do this alone.”

If you can give, please do. If you can’t, your prayers, encouragement, and sharing this campaign are just as valuable. Let’s rally around this family who has given so much of themselves, and help carry them through this battle with love, faith, and strength.