Ashley Carver

You Can Help Make a Difference

As some of you may or may not know, my name is Ashley (Smitley) Carver. I am 28 years old and have Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I’m not really sure where or how to start because this is very hard for me, so I’ll start from the beginning.

When I was 22 years old, I started waking up exhausted, always feeling tired-like to to the point of falling asleep while while driving-, and having my feet and hands feel ice cold and numb. A month later, while driving my daughter to my parents, I was unable to move my legs to brake. I was fortunate enough to be able to cross traffic to get to a parking lot and not get hit. From there my mom took me to the ER where they found I had non-functioning legs. After a few dozen tests, on Aug 2nd 2012, I was told I had MS. My first question was, “Will I walk again?” Luckily for me I was given a couple rounds of steroid infusions and was able to regain use of my legs. I still had numbness, but I could use them nonetheless.

At this point I was forced to quit my job. I was put on 3 different medications (self discharge shots) before finding one that was stabilizing my lesions. I was doing fine on a pill- Gileniya- for 2 years when my side effects became unbearable. Yet again another med change. Plegridy was another self discharged shot that is had to administer to myself. With the shots I was on came much heighten anxiety which I already had prior. So after 1 year on that I couldn’t take it anymore with out hyperventilating hours before. Between medicines I had to undergo many more 3 day steroid infusions for new lesions that were not being taken care of by the medicine. I am now limited on my options from here.

So as I sit here writing this up I now have 26 total active lesions between my spine and brain. Two of the biggest ones are in the part of my brain that deals with memory and the other is in my pituitary gland. These lesions can cause big problems like forgetting who my 8 year old daughter is for a few moments, or forgetting memories of her birth, or not knowing likes and dislikes of her and my husband. I’m aware that I knew these things once, but I can’t do anything about it now except re-learn. So although I am not disabled in the sense of a wheelchair, I am disabled in the sense of being a prisoner in my own head and living in fear of not knowing what’s happening next.

Thank you for reading this far. I would like to ask you for help in stopping my MS with a stem cell transplant. It is a very expensive but promising procedure that can stop MS in its tracks. It’s being done in Chicago by Dr. Burt and has shown great results in Phase III clinical trials, but unfortunately it isn’t covered by insurance. Your donation will help me get this life-saving treatment. If you are unable to donate, please just help spread awareness of this horrible disease that is affecting hundreds if not millions of people. Thank you for your time!

https://www.stemcellresearchfacts.org/dr-richard-burt/

Scroll to 1:21 in the youtube video to learn more about Dr. Richard Burt and the incredible results of stem cell transplantation.

Family and friends of ASHLEY Carver are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

ASHLEY has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility to the full extent allowed by law for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!