Life-Saving Medical Treatment for Ashley Farris

Can you imagine at 44 years old being told that your entire colon must be removed? That is the devastating news that my childhood friend, Ashley Farris, heard from her doctor on June 6, 2022. Ashley suffers from a serious illness called Advanced Crohn’s disease, a condition that inflames her bowels and has worsened to the point that her colon (aka large intestine) is leaking into her body—causing her painful symptoms such as inflammation of her spine. Given the severity of her illness, she must have a colectomy, a procedure to remove all of her colon. Along with this illness, Ashley is facing mounting medical bills including, but not limited to, a $4,500 deductible. She will have to take extended leave to recover while she is paid only 60% of her salary (i.e., short-term disability) as a social worker – which will not even cover her regular bills, much less her medical bills.

 

My name is Elizabeth Lee, and Ashley is very dear to my heart. I’ve known her since we were 10 years old; we grew up in the same hometown of Anacoco, LA; and our grandmothers were friends. Ashley is full of kindness and compassion, which is conducive to her role as a social worker (for 13 years now). Both as a social worker and as a friend, she has helped countless people get into drug rehabilitation treatment, leave abusive relationships, decide against suicide, and much more. I know there is a lot of love from many people out there for Ashley.

 

Ashley is also very humble. Asking for donations is the last thing she wants to do because she is such a giver. (I had to use my most assertive persuasion skills to get her to let me set up this fundraiser.) However, she needs the funds, quite frankly, to live. If you know Ashley, please keep her constantly and fervently in your prayers. If she’s helped you or a loved one through a challenging time, this is your opportunity to give back. If you don’t know her but know me, know that I’m heartbroken by Ashley’s diagnosis – she is like family to me. If you don’t know either of us, trust that your donation is directly going to a very worthwhile cause: medical bills for an angel-on-earth to have life-saving surgery.

 

Will you please consider donating to this fundraiser to ease Ashley’s financial stress and allow her to focus on healing?