Love For Ashley

The dress auction deadline has been extended until April 12, 2009, Easter Sunday. I have had a few bids but the bids have been for the same dollar amount. These dresses are beautiful, here is a picture of Ashley in the white dress at her Aunt Laura's wedding; Ashley was the flower girl.

Yesterday, Ashley and I attended a concert at our church featuring Perry and the Poor Boys . The music was terrific and we especially like the song Ransom . Brad would have enjoyed the guitar solo but unfortunately he was at baseball practice. The concert was great as we love to listen to contemporary Christian music. It was neat watching Ashley sing the music, dance and clap to the beat. When children feel the Holy Spirit they just can't hold back. After the concert they had a nice display of the Band's CD's, cross necklaces and other collectibles. Plus they had a table devoted to World Vision, Child Sponsorship Program . The band works closely with World Vision and with each concert they try to get the concert goer's to adopt-a-child. I was surprised when Ashley said she wanted to adopt a little girl and not get a CD or purchase a necklace. So Ashley adopted a little girl named Cinthya from Ecuador, who is not quite 2 years old. Cinthya is the youngest of 6 children; ...

No folks this is not a report on the progress of Ashley's liver disease. Despite what you might think we don't think about her disease 24/7. Sometimes our life is consumed with much more import things surrounding our children. However, if you must know, Ashley's disease is still stable but she is still dealing with undiagnosed bleeding issues. She goes back to the liver clinic at Shands Hospital in Gainesville on February 9. I have sent an email to her doctor to see what is in store for Ashley during this visit; still don't know what's planned other than blood work. But I am happy with where Ashley is right now regarding her disease. Okay on to more important news.... Ashley received her second quarter progress report and she made four A's and one B. Her A's were' in Reading, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies; her B was in Math. Ashley has 100 average in both Language Arts and Science, and a 94 in Reading and Social Studies. Her Math grade averag...

This is a question that I have been asked several times over the last few years and asked more often recently. There have been many people from the Biliary Atresia Network, which I founded in 2001, that have asked me what I am doing that has allowed Ashley to live 10 1/2 years with her original liver. What have I done that helped prevent Ashley from being inpatient in the hospital since December 1998. I really wish I had an answer as to why Ashley has done so much better than other children with biliary atresia. I wish I had a magic formula to treat this liver disease, believe me if I did I would most certainly share. All I can is tell you is what I have found to be effective in treating Ashley. However, please remember I am just a mom; I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV. First, when Ashley was diagnosed I researched everything and was on the computer 24/7. I would research my research. It drove my husband crazy but it made me feel like I was doing something to help Ashley. I q...

One of my daily New Year goals is to help someone in need. Even though I practice this every year, sometimes like most humans I become selfish and have the "what about me syndrome." It's easy to get wrapped on our own needs and not think about others. I am a very generous person by nature almost to a fault because I am easily used by others. In the past, I have been taken advantage of when I have given generously. I admit because of the past it has been hard for me to give so readily; so generously. This year's daily goals have given me an opportunity to fulfil my strong desire to give; to pay it forward even if I don't reap rewards. A good friend of mine has been fighting the flu for what seems like two weeks (I think she has pneumonia). Laura is a workaholic, but so very generous with herself and her time. Her daughters have become close friends to Brad and Ashley and I simply adore the family; all of them even Mr. Bean and Frankie. Yesterday, I called Laura to...

Below are two dresses that Ashley wore only once, we are auctioning these dresses off here on the Love for Ashley blog. The white dress can be used as a flower girl dress or a first communion dress. The beautiful turquoise dress can be used as a flower girl dress, junior brides maid dress, Easter dress, etc. Both dresses are a little girls size 8 and will be professionally dry cleaned prior to shipment. If you are interested in bidding for either of these dresses please send an email to loveashley@loveforashley.com . The bidding starts today and will end on April 12 . I will update with the highest bidder amount once a week. The starting bid can be found below the pictures of each dress. Have fun, good luck, and remember the money from the sale of these dresses go to Ashley's Transplant Fund. Thank you. Click on the images to make the larger. Starting bid $25 Current bid $28 (as of 1-21-09) Starting bid $20 Current bid $25 (as of 1-21-09) We hope that this online auction is succes...

What is it with people going to work, school, etc. sick? Don't they know that they are not productive when they are sick? What is wrong with employers putting stress on employees that makes their employees come to work sick for fear of loosing their job? I am so tired of parents taking their kids to school knowing that that their child is sick. I don't friggin care if you have a job, stay home with your child so my child won't get sick. What is it with people who allow their children to dance with fevers ! Come on, do you really think your child is able to dance feeling sick? Please keep your sick children home. Ashley went to dance on Monday night, after an hour of dance she came out to tell me that two children in her dance class were running fevers for two days or more. Are you freaking kidding me! And one child left the dance studio with stomach pain, thank goodness she went home and didn't try to "dance it out." I ate lunch with Ashley at school ...

I want to thank all of you who purchased a Love for Ashley Recipes for Life Cookbook. Specifically, I would like to thank Our Savior Lutheran Church in Mobile, Alabama most of the members at this church are familiar with Ashley's story because my parents are members of this church, they purchased many cookbooks to support our cause. I would also like to thank the mom's at Studio 5D Dance Studio in Winter Springs not only did they come up with the idea for the cookbook fundraiser but many also bought more than one cookbook. The teachers at Wilson Elementary in Sanford who are strangers with a huge heart. They purchased at least 15 of Ashley's cookbooks even though they don't know Ashley or me. Ashley's school also purchased a few books. I would like to thank the parents of the Oviedo Blackhawks baseball team you guys ROCK, thank you so much for supporting Ashley and caring for our family. Of course, I can't mention the Oviedo Blackhawks without mentioning the Ovi...

I know it's late but so far it has been a Happy New Year for us, I do hope the year has started off happy for you too. We enjoyed a quite New Year celebration at home watching football games and the Rose Parade. Did anyone see the Gift of Life float? I missed it while switching channels to watch football. I have my priorities you know. I bet you are wondering if I have any New Year's Resolutions. Usually, I make two or three resolutions a year but I am always failing at keeping those resolutions. This year I decided not to make any new years resolutions instead I am setting daily goals. For example, today my goal is to finish my never-ending to do list and run another mile and half. Tomorrow, I will set a different goal or goals. Setting daily goals seems a lot easier to accomplish than setting a goal or many goals for the year. I did ask the kids if they have any New Year Resolutions. Ashley's resolutions is to save enough money to buy a Ragamuffin kitten . She has her hea...