Ashley’s Service Dog Fundraiser
Donation protected
**Dog in picture NOT Mine! I hijacked the dog for a picture. I’m in love with Bernedoodles!**
On Wednesday, August 14th, I woke up to a life altering event – complete blindness in both eyes! The sudden loss of vision is not where my story begins, however. My health journey started as a teenager having stomach and bowel issues. As a young adult, I received my first of two multi organ (stomach, small bowel, duodenum, pancreas) transplants which were done in 2008 and 2016. Currently, I am in kidney failure and on dialysis 3 times a week, which, has in part, contributed to my eyesight loss.
There are only a few centers in the US that perform these specialized transplants and they are quite a distance from our Arizona home. My mom and I had a several month stay in Pittsburgh for the first transplant and needed to stay in Cleveland over two years for the second multi organ transplant. Needless to say, the financial burden of maintaining two households, medical flights, medications, medical supplies and now a guide dog has become insurmountable. Unfortunately, the trips to Cleveland are becoming more frequent with longer stays due to increasing health complications. Despite many surgeries, procedures and medications, I am coping with some of the issues that will always be… including total vision loss.
Although, I have good insurance, it does NOT cover the cost of travel and lodging for me and my caregiver while in Cleveland. Flights and lodging can be very expensive, especially when it’s a long-term stay. For many years, my family has continued to struggle with the financial burden of these expenses and now we have the additional expense of adaptations for my blindness including the need for a guide dog. A trained guide dog will allow me to keep my independence while I continue to mentor other organ transplant patients as well as share the importance of organ donation.
We very much appreciate the continued love and support we’ve received. It truly gives me the strength to live another day. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate through our new normal and learn to live with this new challenge. I will continue to keep you updated on my future progress.
If you’d like to make a donation, we thank you in advance. All donations are HUMBLY appreciated!!! Just know that nothing is too small as every little bit helps.
On Wednesday, August 14th, I woke up to a life altering event – complete blindness in both eyes! The sudden loss of vision is not where my story begins, however. My health journey started as a teenager having stomach and bowel issues. As a young adult, I received my first of two multi organ (stomach, small bowel, duodenum, pancreas) transplants which were done in 2008 and 2016. Currently, I am in kidney failure and on dialysis 3 times a week, which, has in part, contributed to my eyesight loss.
There are only a few centers in the US that perform these specialized transplants and they are quite a distance from our Arizona home. My mom and I had a several month stay in Pittsburgh for the first transplant and needed to stay in Cleveland over two years for the second multi organ transplant. Needless to say, the financial burden of maintaining two households, medical flights, medications, medical supplies and now a guide dog has become insurmountable. Unfortunately, the trips to Cleveland are becoming more frequent with longer stays due to increasing health complications. Despite many surgeries, procedures and medications, I am coping with some of the issues that will always be… including total vision loss.
Although, I have good insurance, it does NOT cover the cost of travel and lodging for me and my caregiver while in Cleveland. Flights and lodging can be very expensive, especially when it’s a long-term stay. For many years, my family has continued to struggle with the financial burden of these expenses and now we have the additional expense of adaptations for my blindness including the need for a guide dog. A trained guide dog will allow me to keep my independence while I continue to mentor other organ transplant patients as well as share the importance of organ donation.
We very much appreciate the continued love and support we’ve received. It truly gives me the strength to live another day. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate through our new normal and learn to live with this new challenge. I will continue to keep you updated on my future progress.
If you’d like to make a donation, we thank you in advance. All donations are HUMBLY appreciated!!! Just know that nothing is too small as every little bit helps.
Organizer
Ashley Foster
Organizer
Fountain Hills, AZ