Help Ashleigh Fight Stage IV Stomach Cancer

This is my sister Ashleigh Rhinehart. She's the strongest, bravest, and most resilient person that I know.

In just 32 years, she's already beaten back breast cancer after having to watch it take her own mother. She's defied infertility and blessed us with Penelope, my wonderful goddaughter. She's accomplished herself as an advocate for female reproductive rights and dedicated her career to  facilitating sexual health care. I'm honored to call her my family.

Around June of this year, a lump surfaced and was accompanied by debilitating back pain. Due to restrictions around COVID, Ashleigh was unable to get scheduled for a biopsy until just last October.

The results realized our worst fears: stage IV stomach cancer. In a historically dispiriting climate, Ashleigh has to fight for her life once more. She will literally never be able to hold her daughter again because of the tumor pressing against her spinal cord.

At this phase, the odds are heavily stacked against us, but there is hope that it can be managed. For the sake of her daughter, Ashleigh has committed herself to that fight. To support her, we intend to seek out every form of treatment at our disposal.

Chemotherapy is underway, but the pain of the affliction and side effects of treatment have rendered her disabled and without a steady source of income. Even with health insurance, just a few weeks of fighting this has drained her financial reserves and left us no choice but to solicit the broader community for help.

This fundraiser aims to provide relief not just for the costs of treatment, but also to offset the burdens of a mortgage, bills, basic sustenance, and raising a 3-year-old child. Anything extra raised and not allocated to those ends will be directed expressly towards the welfare of Penelope. We want nothing more than for Penny to have her mom around for as long as possible, but helping secure her future is paramount.

Our family is profoundly grateful for any support that you might be able to provide, even if only spreading the word. It is among the most cruel misfortunes we've ever endured. Thank you for taking the time to read this.