Welcome to Ashley's Web Page detailing her life fighting Rhabdomyosarcoma - an aggressive cancer - since birth. Ashley was born with Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer, on the right side of her tongue. Her tumor measured 2.2 x 2.5cm and covered 1/3 of her tongue and we first noticed her tumor on the delivery table. Not what a BRAND NEW PARENT wants to experience during a "suppose to be" very joyous occasion. We were filled with terror and worry over our little girl. Ashley is the first recorded case in the U.S.A. of Rhabdo being present on the tongue, as well as developing in the fetus-showing up at birth. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most aggressive form of childhood cancer, as well as the most common form of sarcoma. Rhabdo research does NOT get the funding it needs to STOP this monster from taking kids lives. I watch more and more kids dying from Rhabdo and it devastates me to know that the reason is noone (meaning pharmaceutical companies and a select few larger cancer organizations) wants to fund its research because it is considered "rare". 300 kids each year in the US alone die from Rhabdo.

We have started a 501c3 Non-profit org called Cancer Warriors, Inc. We help families with children with cancer find hope and encouragement, and joy in the midst of a devastating battle. We hope this ministry reaches out to the families and helps them find hope and faith in Jesus. I don't know how we would have gotten through it all without hope and faith in God.

Help support us so we can support all these children! www.CancerWarriors.org

Journal

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 12:26 AM CST

I cannot believe I have not updated since November. Time flies by when you are having fun! HA HA! I have been SWAMPED! I realize i have a "busy bee" problem. I apparently do not know how to relax, therefore I am continuously adding to my to do list. We had an AMAZING Christmas season with Cancer Warriors. We raised enough funds and presents to spoil MANY kids absolutely ROTTEN with presents and eliminate the burden from the parents. With the economy so bad, we shared a lot of tears with parents as we went over the wish list and then called back to say "We got it!" multiple times. It was a HUGE blessing for David and I to bring some joy to families across Georgia who had absolutely NO MONEY to buy Christmas for their kids. They were so grateful for the help. We had some incredible toy drive sponsors this year that helped make it all possible. I believe David and I are still recovering. LOL

I started college in January. I plan to become a pediatric oncology nurse - imagine that!!! :) I have to get 36 hours of specific core classes done first before I can apply to nursing school, but I will get there. I have it mapped out and if all goes as planned (does it ever?) I will start nursing school June 2010. We'll see. i am still working full-time too so who knows. I have straight A's as of NOW, so i will brag about it for as long as I can. :) I was lucky to graduate high school so i put a lot of pressure on myself to do well. I, along with everyone else I know who didn't attend college after high school, did not apply myself in school. Well I am proving a lot to myself now. After all, I gotta prove my son Tyler got his brains from ME. :)

Ashley is doing well. She has not been to the doctor since November, which is a miracle in itself. I tend to think removing the carpet from the majority of our home has helped tremendously with her health. She still has some sinus thing going on with her nose and we will get this addressed with an ENT in the near future. We got bombarded with the Christmas season and Cancer Warriors that I could not find time. She started improving so we put it off to get through the holidays.

I gotta get back to work, but thanks for checking in on us. HUGS!!!

Christy

Links:

E-mail Author: Christina@cancerwarriors.org

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