Love For Ashley

April is Organ Donor Awareness month. In April, we work hard to promote organ donation and thank those who have donated organs to save others. Love for Ashley will dedicate the post during the April to organ donation; those in need and those who generously gave. Do you have a story to tell? Has your life been affected by organ donation? Please share your story with us. Send to loveashley@loveforashley.com.

When we got Ashley's test results from our visit to Shands a few weeks ago, we thought YIPEE, we don't have to see another doctors face for 6 months. Ashley was so excited about not having to have labs drawn for a while or having her body poked and prodded. Finally, a reprieve; we can finally relax, breathe and enjoy life. We spoke to soon... Last night after dance, Ashley complained that her belly and her left ear hurt. She was running a low grade temp so we thought; aan ear infection. Today, we get up for school and work, Ashley has a very normal temperature of 98.0 so she is sent to school. At work, I keep my cell phone on my desk because I thought for sure the school would call me about Ashley not feeling well. Surprisingly, she made it through the school day. At work, I made an appointment with the pediatrician to have her ear checked. Results of the appointment, Ashley doesn't have an ear infecton, her throat is clear of infection, and she has no temperature but...

Most people complain about health insurance in the United States, sure it needs improvement but today I am thanking God for our health insurance. It is our health insurance that is keeping us from being homeless. Think about it, where would you be without your health insurance? We have received most of Ashley's latest hospital bills and since January we have had a little over $10,000 in medical expenses but with our insurance coverage we are only responsible for just a little over $1000. The good news is our out of pocket expenses will now be less because Ashley has met her deductible. We are also now saving money on prescription drugs by going through our health insurance's mail order pharmacy. We will save approximately $200 a month on prescription drugs. Today, I thank God for Federal Employees Blue Cross Blue Shield.

We got Ashley's test results yesterday. And the results are....NORMAL. Ashley has no other heath issues, no other diseases and her liver disease is stable. YIPEE! What's even better, one of the three masses in her liver is smaller. And the best news of all, Ashley doesn't have to go back to Shands Hospital until August! When I told Ashley she busted out laughing, she was so excited. I swear if that girl could do a back flip she would have done one but instead she was dancing the jig. NO MORE DOCTORS, TESTS, NEEDLES, ETC. FOR 5 MONTHS! Doing the happy dance in the Johansen House! Speaking of dance, Joey and I are working on our budget for next year. We want Ashley to stay in the dance company; it has been so good for her. However, we were thinking, "Hey maybe Ashley would like to learn to play tennis." Ashley's so laid back, when we asked her what she wanted, she said, "I'd like to stay in company but if I can't stay in company then I want to...