Please help Ashley get her life back

UPDATE Thankfully we are changing the focus of this page. Ashley has one more trip to North Carolina for a follow up visit and a mesenteric arteries duplex evaluation to confirm her celiac arteries velocity has decreased. Ashley has also started craving random foods. The poor girls only ate scrambled eggs and masked potatoes for nearly six months. Well that’s over! She has enjoyed the various meals, wonderful people have brought to us. . https://mealtrain.com/d872lz

Ashley has also craved shrimp from Bonefish Grill, cookie skillet from Chilis, shrimp from Longhorns and a chocolate stampede desert. I’ve been picking up takeout the past couple of days. She had been eating well and making up for the six months she could eat anything.




There are still spots available. A dear friend has set up some meals for us after her surgery. This has helped me so much. Thank you to everyone who’s sending meals. https://mealtrain.com/d872lz




I also want to Thank everyone who has donated. I can never thank you enough! We appreciate everyone who has helped.

We are still have one more trip to North Carolina.  Every donation will help especially with these rising gas prices.

❤️‍Please share  her page  https://gofund.me/8e6be4a9 ❤️‍

In early October, Ashley began having severe abdominal pain that has become progressively worse. Now, she barely eats because eating makes the pain unbearable. She is losing weight and is now only eating baby food. Her only comfort comes when she is sleeping in a fetal position. So most days she sleep up to 20 hours . Her doctors fear that if she continues to deteriorate, she will require a feeding  tube. At this time she has very little energy to do anything. 

 

After seeing many doctors and surgeons she has been diagnosed with MALS. Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS), which has also been called Celiac Artery Compression Syndrome or Dunbar Syndrome. MALS is a rare condition in which the median arcuate ligament presses too tightly on the celiac artery (a major branch of the aorta that delivers blood to the stomach, liver, and other organs) and the nerves in the area (celiac plexus). The lack of blood flow to these organs and nerves can further lead to ischemia. Those with MALS and have been diagnosed with MALS have a diaphragm that sits too low, which in turn lowers the median arcuate ligament onto the celiac artery and celiac ganglion nerves. With every breath Ashley takes, as the diaphragm rises to exhale, the ligament compresses her celiac artery and surrounding nerves. This interrupts blood flow and, over time, causes the nerves to get inflamed. This in turn is causing her severe upper-abdominal pain (particularly after eating), persistent nausea, exercise intolerance, and inability to eat. This is a rare condition that requires surgery. There is no known treatment or medication to relieve the pain besides surgery. The two surgeons in Florida that perform this rare surgery do not accept her insurance. We have located a surgeon in CT and the Mayo Clinic in MN who will preform the surgery and MAY work with her insurance. These options will require travel, lodging, meals, etc.

 

Ashley is now 21 years old. She has suffered from numerous health problems since her early teens when she was diagnosed with Dysautonomia (a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system) and POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.). In addition, she was recently diagnosed with MALS (Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome).

 

Ashley is a very intelligent a beautiful girl. Despite her debilitating health problems she graduated from Viera High School with honors. She received her associates degree from Eastern Florida State College and is currently enrolled at University of Central Florida studying neuroscience.

 

Please help Ashley during this very difficult time.. The money raised will be used to assist with travel, lodging, meals, and any out of pocket medical expenses. Ashley needs to be treated ASAP. Thank you for caring enough to read her story. Please share with your friends and family.