The Ashley McNutt Cancer Fund

Hello! My name is Brent McNutt, and my wife Ashley (a sufferer of Lynch Syndrome) is fighting for her life against Stage 4 gastric cancer, as she is determined to be there for our twenty month old Aubrey, myself, and as much life and adventure as the Lord allows. Ashley, pictured top right, is a thirty seven year old mother of one, a lover of soft and peaceful things, quiet, flowers, a lover of goodness, full of grace, and has already beaten cancer twice.

In 2012 she was diagnosed with duodenal adenocarcinoma after an acute anemia event and was rushed to UVA Charlottesville where she underwent a Whipple Procedure.

Despite this setback, we continued to take life head on and make plans for a future. We finally got married, and began building a home and family together. We were actively working towards our vision for six long years when Ashley's bloodwork came back with concerning results. A biopsy confirmation later, and we were rushed to remove the newly discovered Thyroid Cancer. After a full thyroidectomy we returned to life as usual, and three years later, achieved our dream of bringing our beautiful daughter, Aubrey, into the world.

Deep in the love and peace of parenthood, we began to enjoy all of the wonderful things family life offers. I left a medical QA position that was exceedingly stressful in order to return full time to school so I might finally work in a field directly related to my interests (Biology). I went back to serving tables (a job I enjoyed in my youth) at Texas Roadhouse. Ash was a stay at home Mother, taking excellent care of our new little girl. I achieved the best overall semester grades I ever have (all A's!), and life was amazing. All was better than it ever had been in my life, and after the previous rough decade, we were finally daring to have some Hope. Ashley's stomach was bugging her, so she messaged her Gastroenterologist, who was happy to take a look, as it had been some time since her last inspection. I was on the way to school to take my last final for the semester, May 4, 2023, when a phone call came.

Disaster.

They let us know that it was gastric cancer this time. Adenocarcinoma with Signet Ring Features. I hung up the phone, walked in, and stumbled my way through my Final Exam. The whole Summer of Joy, and plans, and teaching my child, and savoring sweet family memories was destroyed. No kayaking, no hiking. Instead, it would likely be surgeries and Chemotherapy.

And it has. Her Oncologist sent her back to UVA but our insurance didn't want us to go out of state, so a month was lost in that endeavor, and we subsequently made plans with the University of Tennessee. They decided a total gastrectomy was the best course of action, and while we finished the chemo, plans were made for just that. Having recently covered the science of immunotherapy in school, I got Ashley placed on Keytruda through the manufacturer's program, and with a plan in place, we felt as good as we could about the situation.

A few weeks later, Ashley started to complain of pain in her left leg. This went on for two weeks when I suggested she might want to mention it to her Oncologist. She did, and we were sent for scans.

Disaster.

The cancer had metastasized into the bone in her left femur. The gastrectomy was put on hold until the metastasis was handled. There were fears of pathological fracture, and so the doctors decided to place a titanium rod the length of her femur. This caused the cancer to go wild, and her knee quickly swelled and became immobile. Twenty radiation treatments to her leg and knee later, and it seemed the tumor growth had slowed or stopped in that area, leaving a nasty burn on the back of her knee. Unfortunately during this time it seems the cancer had spread to other areas, as well.

We are now at UT Medical Center, where she is fighting hard. I rarely ask for help in life, as I don't like to be a burden to others, but I think, finally, I really could use some help. If you are able to donate to this fundraiser, or even if you've taken the time to read our story and express prayers and good thoughts, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Mr. Rogers always told me to look for the Helpers when I was really in need, so here I am, asking for your support during this terrifying and heartbreaking time. I again thank you more than words can express, and hope your life is as amazing as mine is currently not.

The funds secured during this fundraiser will be utilized to cover medical costs until exhausted, or used for end of life costs should medical aid no longer be necessary, or if not fully utilized for these two, the remainder will be used as a college fund for our daughter.