Ashley Foster

My name is Ashley Foster, I am 30, and I live in Scottsdale Arizona. At the age of 17, I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis. Gastroparesis is a condition of the GI tract, causing delayed gastric emptying. Because of this, anything I ate or drank sat in my stomach for a prolonged time, causing nausea and vomiting. Due to my excessive nausea and vomiting, I was unable to receive enough nourishment. In order to get all of the nourishment I need to sustain life, every night I hooked up to an IV solution called TPN. TPN stands for Total Parenteral Nutrition, it contained all of my daily nutritional needs.

Unfortunately, if being diagnosed with Gastroparesis wasn’t enough. I was also diagnosed with Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction. Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction is again a condition of the bowels that decreases the body’s ability to move food through the bowel. Due to this I experienced severe nausea, vomiting, bloating, constipation, and pain.

After being treated for years with medications and TPN, we exhausted all options to maintain a good quality of life. The next step was to get a Small Bowel Transplant. This transplant is referred to as a Modified Multi-Visceral transplant and included the following organs; Stomach, Duodenum, Small Bowel and Pancreas.

On November 6, 2008 I was given the gift of a second chance at life. Since the transplant, I have had many complications. I have gone into severe rejection three times now, including the most recent rejection in November 2012. Thankfully, all the rejections were able to be treated with very strong medications. I’ve also struggled with Chronic Pancreatitis (painful inflammation of the pancreas) of the donor pancreas, requiring extended stays in the hospital and multiple procedures. I’ve also developed a large Arterial Thrombosis (blood clot in artery feeding transplanted organs) that threatens the blood flow of the newly transplanted organs. In October 2012, I underwent a very complicated surgery to open up and re-route to connection between my stomach and intestines, to hopefully treat and alleviate the severe nausea and vomiting that I had been complicated with for the last year.

Unfortunately, due to my transplant and all of the complications I have gone into extreme financial hardship and I have acquired a great amount of debt. Although, I do have insurance, there are still many medical and non-medical expenses that are not covered by insurance. Since my Transplant Center is in Pittsburgh, any time I have a complication I have to return to Pittsburgh for treatment. I basically have to establish a second household in Pittsburgh. This only adds to the financial burden. Unfortunately due to these complications and the need for many trips back and forth between Arizona and Pittsburgh the estimated costs of the transplant and the aftercare has far exceeded anything we could have prepared for and this is where I am asking for help.

To help offset these costs I have established a Fundraising Campaign through HelpHOPELive (formerly known as NTAF). HelpHOPELive is a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for nearly 30 years. All contributions are administered by HelpHOPELive exclusively for uninsured transplant related expenses. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Any and all donations would be greatly appreciated. No donation is too small and every little bit helps.

To make a contribution:

Make checks payable to:
HelpHOPELive

Note in the memo section:
In Honor of Ashley Foster

Mail to:
HelpHOPELive
Two Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087

To make a credit card donation:
Call 800.642.8399 or select the DONATE NOW button above.

I can be followed on Facebook, which I try to keep updated to the best of my ability. I can also be followed through my website www.itsallgoodashley.org, which I admit I am not so good at keeping updated but I will try to pick it back up.

Most of all I really appreciate every one’s ongoing love and support. Without all of the love and support I have received from everyone, the fight wouldn’t be as easy. It gives me a purpose to keep fighting. Thank You and Thank You in advance for any contributions. Much Love!