Every single day I am touched in some way. Wednesday night it was because of the hospital staff who worked together with extreme competence making a very nerve wracking experience smooth when Ashtyn needed to go to the intensive care unit. Yesterday it was her loving ICU nurse. We thought Ash would be ready to go to the cancer floor by 8:00 a.m. but instead her blood pressure dipped down again requiring her to stay in the ICU another 12 hours. There was a meeting in progress ending at 11:00 a.m. where nurses were asked if anyone would be willing to stay and work the rest of day shift because the ICU unit was understaffed. Amy asked what patient assignment it would be if she stayed. "A 17 year old girl with cancer." She responded, "Is it Ashtyn?" 13 years ago Amy lived in Salt Lake City. Her sister in law knows my sister in law and was told to keep an eye out for Ash. She was happy to hear what patient it was and agreed to stay and work. During the day they chit chatted and found out Amy is also the aunt of a good friend from school. The day was pleasant while Amy took excellent care of Ashtyn medically, spoiled her with a cotton candy frappuccino for lunch, and gave her a sweet hug at the end of her shift. There is no doubt Ashtyn is being watched over. That was also the first thing Dr. Adam Lamble said when he found out she had gone to the intensive care unit the very day he was considering having her leave the hospital. If we were at the Ronald McDonald House during the time sepsis hit, the aftermath could have been detrimental. Instead she quickly got needed interventions and only stayed in the ICU 18 hours before going back to the cancer floor. So far her blood cultures have come back negative for a bacterial infection but it is assumed that she was septic and will stay in the hospital for approximately 10 days taking IV antibiotics.
There's only two more weeks before Ashtyn's Leukemia & Lymphoma fundraiser is over. This is a seven-week initiative in which select high school students from around the country participate in a fundraising competition for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 78% of all money raised directly funds cancer research and supports patients fighting blood cancers. So far she has raised 26% of her goal because of 113 people who have donated. We are so grateful to each one. Wouldn't it be cool if we could get 300 donors?! This cause means so much to Ashtyn and I think it would be really cool if she could meet her goal. Please consider donating at:
