Help Support Ashley with her Fight Against Aggressive Cancer

I've always heard the term: Life can change in an instant, and we have had an up-close experience and can attest to that.

I have been sick continuously for the past year, you name it, I got it. Even had Mono at the age of 40, which is very uncommon for a person at that age. Back in March 2024, I went to bed on Sunday night only to wake up Monday morning with a huge lump sticking out of my left neck, right under my ear to the middle of my throat. The doctor said the lymph node was a 4cm mass of fluid. After having a fine needle aspiration biopsy, that came back abnormal, I was told I had to have the mass (lymph node) removed so that it could be sent off to the cancer center for testing. During surgery/removal of the lymph node, the specialist in the room with my surgeon saw the carcinoma cells right away. The lymph nodes were sent to the cancer center for biopsy and were confirmed by them as cancer cells.

I was just diagnosed on July 3, 2024, with Aggressive Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cancer. It is a very aggressive form of cancer. I have had a CT Scan, PET Scan to find the main site of cancer and still have to undergo another surgery procedure to the tongue and throat area.

The sad thing about cancer is that with Cancer comes extremely exhausting treatments. With the cancer that I have been diagnosed with, I will have to undergo 8 weeks of Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy. I will begin traveling to the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Atlanta, Georgia on the 29th of this month and continue traveling back and forth for the duration of treatment. I will meet with my new care team, my medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, chemo oncologists, immunotherapy, surgeon, ENT specialist, pain management team, dietitian and don't forget the behavioral health therapist through the numerous appointments that are lined up for me for the next few months.

So all this being said, I am reaching out to everyone today for help. I hate asking anyone for anything but I just have no choice in this situation. It literally feels like cancer smacked me in the face overnight and I was in no way prepared for any of this. Once I start treatments, I will be going out of work for the 8 weeks (the doctor said that I will have to be very careful as my immune system during this time will be shot). Being out of work for 8 weeks also means my medical bills (that are already piling up on me as my insurance only covers so much) will continue to grow. My out-of-pocket expense has already reached over $10,000 with the surgeries, Scans, biopsies. This is not including the upcoming surgery, treatments, pain medications, or travel. I am slowly starting to panic as to how I will afford to pay off all the trips to Georgia, Medical Bills, Personal Bills, support myself and my family if I have no money coming in. I am at this very moment, PRAYING for a miracle, because as you all know I have to keep moving forward: meaning the bills will continue racking up just so the cancer does not continue to spread throughout my body. Fun fact, cancer waits for no one and without treatment, it will stay on its course of action and that is to spread and to kill.

I have prayed and will continue to pray that God leads me down the right path, that he helps me beat this cancer in the butt and that I get to live a long happy life with my family as they still need me.

I have prayed that in the event that cancer does beat me, that my family is not left with the hardship of not only my death and burial but my leftover bills that they will be responsible to pay for. The death of a loved one is hard enough on a family.

So here I am, pleading that anyone and everyone that is able to please send us a helping hand, and please pray for me and my family during this time. I need as many prayers as I can get. Also want to say thank you in advance.

Love always,

Some are asking for my mailing address as well:

PO Box 1333

Newland, NC, 28657