Dear Friends,

 

I writing to give you an update regarding Ashanta’s recovery from her brain surgery just over one month ago on April 2nd. Overall Ashanta is rockin’ her recovery. She continues to heal in both matters of the spirit, and of course, of the body.   She recently had 80 staples removed from her ear-to-ear incision that were holding her post-surgery scalp in place, and can now go into the sun without the metal heating up and sizzling the skin on her head. (True story!)

 

While things are improving as hoped for, Ashanta’s attitude is high, but her energy is still quite low. Her brother, Mike, compared her to an old iPhone 4 with a battery that barely lasts for an hour. Ashanta shared today that she was “cooked” after frying an egg and preparing a simple breakfast—something that you and I do without hesitation and certainly something that does not deplete our energy. If you are local, you may have seen Ashanta at the dance last Saturday.  After making the 250 yard walk to the dance from the parking lot, she needed to sit and rest for a long while to recharge her batteries; she broke her record and was able to dance for two entire songs back to back, but then needed to rest for the half hour or more. Dance for her is part of her physical therapy and exercise, and provides loving community nourishment for her soul. 

 

As many of you know, this whole ordeal happened quite suddenly (her tumor was discovered on Feb 19th), and there has been an adjustment to not being able to do the things we all take for granted: being home alone (she still has a caregiver every night), driving, grocery shopping, cooking one’s own meals, lifting heavy objects, using a step ladder, watching TV or using the computer without limitation (too much of this gives her a headache) walking around the block without resting 2-3 times, etc. Don’t worry, all these things are temporary—everyone expects her to make a full comeback—but for now she is still quite impaired. Ashanta is a generally a very positive person, but at times she feels understandably impatient and blue.

 

I continue to celebrate her recovery and recognize that she is still needing help with day-to-day activities. Doctors told her from the beginning that her recovery would take around 6-8 weeks (it has been 4).  Ashanta feels an infinite sense of gratitude for those that have provided meals for her and her family, and donations to help defer medical costs and the time she is out of work. (She is a single mom and the sole breadwinner for her family of three.)

 

Ashanta asked me to extend the Meal Train calendar a few more weeks to support this next phase of healing, and to keep her nourished during that time. If you can support Ashanta with a meal, please visit Meal Train.  If you cannot actually prepare a meal, etc. please consider making a donation of any size to “Grub Hub,” (an option on the Meal Train page to the lower left). Grub Hub allows Ashanta to order food online and have it delivered.  

 

Ashanta deeply appreciates your support both of food and all of the generous GoFundMe donations that you have provided. GoFundMe donations help Ashanta pay for household expenses and out-of-pocket costs which her insurance doesn’t pay.

Thank you for being part of bringing magical Ashanta back to health and to her bright and alive self!

 

Love and blessings,

 

Andy