Honored Heroes

ASHLEY

Ashley’s story began in 2021, right around Halloween when she developed sharp chest pains. At first, she thought it was a pulled muscle from lifting weights or sleeping wrong, but after a few days with no improvement, she went to the doctors. With a clear X-ray and blood work, doctors assumed she had Costochondritis.

However, in December, a lymph node popped up in her neck, and another in January. Other symptoms began arising too; as a very active person with a balanced diet, she was concerned by the increase in blood rushing to her head during work outs, she would get lightheaded from picking things up, she would wheeze when laying down, and she would have a coughing fit when she laughed. Something just didn’t feel right, so she finally called the doctor again.  This time they scheduled a CT SCAN and EKG. The CT showed fluid surrounding her right lung, explaining her breathing trouble, and masses in her chest. Her world started to flip upside down. What did it all mean?

A PET scan in early March, nearly six months from her first doctor’s visit, would provide the answer. After looking at her results and speaking with her doctor, she was told she had cancer. Her head spun with questions: Me? A fairly healthy and active 29-year-old has cancer? How is this real? The following few weeks included biopsy procedures and the fluid being drained from her lung.

On April 4, she was officially diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, specifically Primary Mediastinal Large B Cell Lymphoma, an aggressive and fast-moving, but treatable cancer. Her treatment would have to start right away and be 6 rounds, every 3 weeks, for 5 days straight per round. She was crushed. She already wanted her normal life back, which felt so far out of reach at the time. With such a busy year planned out including her best friend’s wedding, she couldn’t help but wonder “why is this happening to me now?”

Going through chemo was tough, losing her hair was hard, having to be extra careful being around friends and family was exhausting, and so was the constant anxiety about whether the chemo was working. She tried her best to keep a positive attitude and smile through it all, but it was far from easy. Fast forward to today, Ashley can proudly say that she is in remission!

Throughout this entire journey, Ashley connected with a complete stranger who became someone she could relate to more than she could ever imagined. Nick, who is no longer a stranger, went through the exact same journey Ashley embarked on. He answered every question she had and introduced her to LLS and all that LLS has to offer patients, survivors and caregivers. When this opportunity came to be the honored hero for Big Climb, Ashley knew she couldn’t pass it up. She wants the chance to be there for someone like Nick was there for her and LLS provided that opportunity: “the volunteers in this organization are so passionate about one day living in a world free of blood cancer. It is because of you and all your donations that I have the opportunity to be honored, and I can’t thank you enough”.