Ansley Booth Recovery Fund

Ansley's Story (as told by her mom).
Note: Ansley is in her senior year of high school.

"On December 6, Ansley spent a week in the hospital getting platelet and blood transfusions. For days she withstood extensive testing and a bone marrow biopsy followed by more blood transfusions and platelets.  

On December 11, we were told that Ansley has Severe Aplastic Anemia. This RARE blood disorder is the failure of the bone marrow to produce the sufficient blood cells for circulation.

December 16th - In Ansley’s case, her best option for a cure is a direct parent/sibling Bone Marrow Transplant. Myself and my son, Zac, were tested to find out if we may be a bone marrow match.

December 23rd - Complete Blood Counts (CBC) evaluation and case management meetings with her physician team and hospital staff. Merry Christmas.

December 30th - We found that no one is a perfect match and that we will need to conduct more genealogical testing to determine the safest path of treatment. She received more platelets and a Chick-fil-A sandwich. Happy New Year.

January 7th - More tests, more platelets, more blood transfusions, more waiting.

January 14th - More tests. More waiting. Another case management meeting.

We were fortunate to have caught this early and she has been able to avoid lengthy hospital stays but her symptoms are now visible to others. Much of aplastic anemia is battled inside the body until things like frequent & persistent bloody noses, extreme fatigue, thrombocytopenia and excessive bruises show all over her body to disrupt her daily living.

Today is January 21st. All of her testing concludes that my perfect baby girl has Idiopathic Severe Aplastic Anemia. Our mighty little family and her team of talented physician specialists believe that the safest course of treatment at this time is to begin inpatient immunosuppressant therapy.

On Tuesday January 28th, Ansley begins her journey for a treatment plan We are nervous but oh so ready. We believe this is the beginning of the long road to her cure and we are grateful for the peace that knowledge and a plan has brought us.

Even as I write this, I wonder why it is that I feel compelled to share such intimate details of our lives with an audience of a few friends and many strangers. This is why:

If you have ever or will ever donate blood, bone marrow, and/or platelets, THANK YOU. You have saved my life and in the most literal sense, you have saved my daughter’s life. THANK YOU.

If you have ever or will ever donate and/or volunteer for CURE Childhood Cancer, THANK YOU. The incredible amount of resource and information this amazing organization has painstakingly prepared to help kids stay comfortable and entertained while educating and assisting care givers is nothing short of God’s work. THANK YOU.

Piedmont Hospital, Emory Health, and the real MVP, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. THANK YOU.

If you work there, love someone that works there, know someone that works there, THANK YOU. Atlanta is a beautiful city and a fun place to live, But I will never again take for granted how fortunate we are to have nationally top rated physicians, staff, and programs in our backyard.

Until now, I have been fairly tight-lipped as we have navigated through the last few weeks. I’ve asked my small group of family and confidants to remain quiet and vigilant so that we had what we needed and didn’t come off the rails. I wanted to know what we were dealing with before we became headline news over the holidays and the dinner tables. I wanted to give my daughter her privacy, the opportunity to process and the chance to be treated normally through the holidays before we faced the inevitable (whatever that may be.)

However, the “Not Knowing” felt a lot like ‘The Nothing’ in NeverEnding Story. It’s at first confusing, then terrifying. You become quick to outrun the fear but alone and overtime the nothing begins to eat at your future. Reassuring other people is difficult when you don’t have answers to your own questions. (Thankfully, we now have a diagnosis and a plan.)

During that time Our Wolfpack of Wildasses and Weirdos has in some cases literally held me, my home, my schedule, my business, and my health together, so I have to thank them too. You know who you are. THANK YOU. I hope I never have to return the favor. I LOVE YOU and I need you still.

Ansley’s journey back to good health is really just beginning. She has a long road and it will get harder before it gets easier but it leads the way to the cure. Wellness is always worth the fight. THANKS IN ADVANCE for seeing us through.

Last and most importantly, THANK GOD, for all of the above, and so much more but most especially for my little girl."

~ Stephanie Booth 


Being a single mom with 2 teenagers, Ansley's care is the only priority for Stephanie. She has not been able to work the past few months due to constant hospital and doctor visits. Insurance only covers a portion of the medical expenses, and none of the living expenses.

If you can help give anything to this amazing little family it will help a great deal. They have a long road ahead of them and need ongoing support and care. It takes a village with most kids. Imagine if your child was diagnosed with a dangerous disease like Ansley's. 

Please help by giving what you can and let's get Ansley through these treatments and on the road to recovery.