I've said it before - but I'm going to reiterate it again today - I am continually amazed at how God can use seemingly trivial, insignificant things in our lives to bring about BIG things. When I received a tutu from Shabby Apple back in April and wore it to chaperone the Middle School Semi-Formal I had NO clue that that big ball of pink tulle would lead me to a friendship with an absolutely amazing woman. When I decided to pass along the tutu and asked for nominations of women who could use some lighthearted fun in their lives in the form of a pink tulle skirt I received multiple emails about Ashleigh and her year long battle with Inflammatory Breast Cancer.
Ashleighs friends told me the story of how at 29 years old and 34 weeks pregnant with her second child, she had been diagnosed with Stage 3 triple negative inflammatory breast cancer. She gave birth to her second son right as her first turned 18 months old and has been battling for her life ever since. She has endured forty chemotherapy infusions, major surgery and 55 radiation treatments over the last year.
I met Ashleigh on Mother's Day weekend as she was coming back from a quick trip to Houston for scans on her back where she had been having some pain. She was relieved that the scans hadn't revealed any cancerous spots and was excited to celebrate Mother's Day with her boys.
At the end of May, Ashleigh had new scans which revealed that she has THE most aggressive, fastest growing breast cancer possible - inflammatory, triple negative, metastatic, with 90%+ of her cells actively replicating. She went from a completely clear bone scan (right before she and I met) to a scan that revealed too many bone lesions to count as well as cancer in her lungs
Since then, Ashleigh and I have been chatting via text and I've never been anything but blown away by her insight, perspective and sense of humor. It was in a text a few weeks ago that she told me that this year has been the best year of her life. Seriously. And that she wished that it wasn't her last because she was having way too much fun and had too many things to do. Her to-do list included big picture items like providing perspective to others about what really matters in life as well as providing hope to women with cancer - but it also included more tangible line items such as finishing her guest room :) and raising money for research for the disease that she was battling.
I'm a "do-er" and I've been wanting to "do" for Ashley and her family whatever I could to help out. Pretty much all of their needs have been taken care of, so when she mentioned raising money for research I jumped on the opportunity to help and "do". We were texting about t-shirt ideas when she texted me "Light and Momentary" and this verse...
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
What a testimony! We ran with "light and momentary" and the FABULOUS Caroline from Vine and Branches created an amazing hand-drawn design for us to use on t-shirts and now I'm compelling all of you to order one and help Ashleigh fulfill one of her wishes, to raise money for research for inflammatory, triple negative and metatastic breast cancers.
Order at www.booster.com/lightandmomentary and then spread the word to your friends and family and to others via social media :)
ALL proceeds will go to cancer research and the navy and pink shirts are both available in children's sizes as well. PLEASE don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions. The sale will end on July 15th at which point the shirts will be printed and shipped directly to you.
Please continue to pray for Ashleigh, Brad and their boys and you can keep updated on her via her blog HERE and/or her Facebook page HERE.
Now GO! BUY! DONATE!!! And tell your friends!!!
#prayforash
What an incredibly strong and brave woman. My heart goes out to her and her family.
ReplyDeleteLauren
www.postgradinprogress.blogspot.com
Just bought a pink shirt!! I have been praying for Ashleigh every day since you introduced us to her. I will continue to pray for her and her family. It's just amazing to see how much God has worked through that tutu. xo
ReplyDeletePraying for Ashley!! She is such a testament of how we should be living our lives-everyday. Thank you for sharing her with me!!
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful! I will be purchasing this shirt. I have followed one with her story, and my heart just breaks for her and her family!
ReplyDeleteMy heart just breaks for sweet Ashleigh and her precious family. Her testimony through it all has been absolutely inspiring! Going to check out the t-shirts now!
ReplyDeleteI love this!! She is so inspiring and we are praying for her!!
ReplyDeleteLove the verse and love the shirt!! Praying for Ashley and I'll definitely be ordering a shirt !! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't comment often enough, but I read your blog EVERY day. You inspire ALWAYS inspire me to be a better mom, but today you have gone far beyond that. You are truly amazing! To God be the Glory!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a compelling story! That verse is so powerful!!! She lives out grace in her life. I will continue to pray for Ashleigh and her sweet family.
ReplyDeletemy absolute favorite verse of all time! praying for ash!!
ReplyDeleteThis may be a weird request, but is there a way I can donate without buying a shirt? I have way more tshirts then I will ever need but would love to donate to this cause!
ReplyDeletePraying! Inspired on what I thought was a bad day for myself and WOW perspective. Buying a shirt! Thanks for the insight and awareness.
ReplyDeletewww.lindsayotis.blogspot.com
Love your posts about Ashleigh. I've been following her blog. LOVED her comment on her blog dated June 14: "my hope is not in chemo, or in you (looking at the doctor), or in him (looking at me), but in a life well-lived and in eternity with God." (note: "me" was her husband Brad) She has been an inspiration with what she's been going through. Thank you, Andrea, for introducing her to us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful lady. I am praying.
ReplyDeletePraying for her. How humbling to see someone who is going through so much to be so graceful, thankful, and faithful to the Lord.
ReplyDeleteBought a shirt and have been praying. I lost my Aunt Saundra to a metastatic form of breast cancer in 2010. Praying for Ashleigh and for her family.
ReplyDeleteMy prayers go out to Ashleigh and her family. I will continue to pray for her every single day. My Daddy was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, in April 2014. He lost his battle in March 2015. I know how difficult the battle is. And how lonely and tough some days can be. I was my Daddy's primary caregiver. And I know first hand, how important, and vital, prayer is.
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