❤️ Help Ashley Heal from a Rare, Life-Threatening Illness ❤️
Just a few months ago, my sister Ashley suffered a devastating reaction to a common antibiotic, a rare but extremely severe condition called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome with Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). This life-threatening reaction attacks all mucous membranes, including the eyes, and causes the skin to slough off. It’s one of the most painful and dangerous medical emergencies imaginable.
In Ashley’s case, this reaction affected nearly her entire body from the top of her head down to her knees. The same devastating process also occurred internally, attacking her mucous membranes and causing severe damage.
To remove the dead and damaged skin, Ashley had to undergo an extensive debridement procedure, a surgery that clears away tissue affected by necrosis so the body can begin to heal.
Because of the severity of her reaction, Ashley also required a tracheotomy, a procedure where an opening is made in the trachea and a tube is inserted to help her breathe safely and maintain her airway.
Her eyes were gravely affected as well. The protective layer of her corneas sloughed away, leaving them extremely vulnerable. While in the ICU, doctors placed amniotic membrane lenses over her eyes to protect them and prevent her eyelids from fusing to the surface of her eyeballs, a crucial step in preserving her vision
Ashley is currently extremely sensitive to light and suffers from ocular hypertension as well as severe scratches on the surface of her eyes. Because of this, she must keep her eyes closed for most of the day in between getting her medicated eye drops and artificial tears to protect them and prevent further damage.
After nearly two months in the ICU, Ashley was finally discharged. While we are beyond grateful she survived, the road to recovery is long and demanding. She now requires care from a multidisciplinary team of doctors, multiple appointments each week, and an extensive medication schedule that goes literally around the clock.
Since her discharge, my mom and I have been Ashley’s full-time caregivers and it’s truly a labor of love. However, at the start of the new year, my mom will need to return to Savannah for work, which will leave me as Ashley’s sole caregiver. That’s why we’re reaching out now for help with bridging the gap over the next six months as we work tirelessly to get Ashley to a place where she can open her eyes on her own and regain some independence in her care.
Ashley’s health challenges are further complicated by her autoimmune condition, Sjogren’s Syndrome, which she was diagnosed with in 2019. She has also bravely survived bacterial meningitis in 2023 which is another life threatening illness where she also loss the hearing in her left ear. Through it all, Ashley has shown incredible strength, courage, and resilience. She is truly a warrior.
We know times are hard for many, but any amount you can give will go directly toward Ashley’s medical needs, supplies, and home care support. Your generosity will help lighten the load as we focus on what matters most which is getting Ashley back to health, both physically and emotionally.
To know Ashley is to love her. She’s strong, kind, and full of light and we can’t wait for the day she’s smiling, laughing, and feeling like herself again, even as she adjusts to a new normal.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support, your prayers, and your love. 💜
