Ashtyn proudly displaying her swag from the Coca Cola shop
Ashtyn Susan Poulsen is a normal 12 year old who has always had a love for family, friends, and strangers. She loves spending time with her sister and two brothers whether she is exploring Disneyland, knee boarding in Lake Powell, swimming at the local pool, or relaxing at home. She enjoys playing the piano, going to church activities, hanging out with friends, and singing. She has a special gift with children and would like to be a kindergarten teacher one day. Ashtyn was completely healthy until January 2013 when she became extremely tired and pale. On January 30th, she went to the hospital for the first time and was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia called undifferentiated leukemia. Since being diagnosed she has felt many emotions such as sorrow, anxiety, fear, and pain. However she is determined to see the blessings in all things and face cancer with complete faith and trust in God, hope, optimism, and patience.
Finding Joy In The Journey: We are venturing up a new mountain we have never climbed before. What will the path be like? Which areas will be steep and rocky? Where will the green pastures and level ground be? When will there be areas we can run down? Where will the stumbling blocks and rocks be? How often will we be able to sit and enjoy the scenery? How will we get over the boulders and up the cliffs that seem impossible? What will the different area of the mountain look like? What does this journey have in store? When will we be able to get to the top and know WE MADE IT!!? There will be a day when Ashtyn sits at the top of the mountain and looks back on her journey. She will then recognize what she learned and how she grew. Ashtyn will be able to notice how much stronger she became and how different the world looks. She will be ready to climb other mountains with more courage, faith, trust, character, and strength than she ever knew possible.
This blog is a journal of the real and raw journey that we have begun. Through faith in God, trust in our Savior, hope in the future, optimism, hard work, patience, and a lot of prayers, we are prepared to see miracles. We look forward to receiving daily tender mercies and to be amazed by Ashtyn’s strength, our own strength as a family, and by the love we receive from others.
We love you Ashtyn!!! We are praying for you… Stay strong, you are a courageous girl!!!
LOVE
Erin and “The Incredible Kace”
I know your having a hard time… I promise you that God will always be with you! I know that it may not feel like it but he is with you. I will come to see you by the end of this month. I hope you get better soon, and whatever struggles you have just know that the more struggles the more life and strength you have in you. You have enough strength and power in you that you can get through this. You are an amazing and strong person. Don’t think that you can’t get through this because you are the most strongest and most kind hearted person I know. Don’t let who you are die because you have cancer… keep your hopes and hearts up, I promise everything will be okay.
p.s that was me on the second comment
My hopes and wishes are with you
Hi this is Sophie from school! I want to tell you that four of my aunts had cancer. It was very hard. I remember praying for them. They are all ok now and as happy as ever. I will pray and hope!:) My sincerest wishes are with you…
Ashtyn you are a strong girl with an amazing personality. You make the whole class laugh when you and mya have a conflict in class over Justin Bieber. You are an amazing person and I know that you can get through this. No matter what life throws at you you will just “punch it in the gut.” Ashtyn I have had fun times with you and hope that you still remember when we came to your hour and my mom wouldn’t let me watch Clifford the big red dog, of course we attached it anyway but it was fun and I enjoyed it. Even though we really don’t talk we are still friends on the inside and I hope it will always be like that.
Get well soon Ashtyn. My great grandpa had cancer, but he got better. You will too,I know it. :). Stay strong! :)
Yeah, this is Carter’s sister, Lilly. I just want to say, I know that times may be rough, but when you really try your hardest, God won’t let you fail. I know that that seems all mushy, and I’m sorry that it does, but it’s true!!! I know for a fact that you’ll get better and you always need to have hope that you will. I’m so sorry that you’re sick. I hope that you’ll be at school soon!!!! I wasn’t at school because I was sick so I wasn’t able to make you a card. If I was able to, it would be awesome! Get well soon!!!
Ashtyn you are an amazing person. I know that it is hard when you have cancer, but you can always think about the things that will happen after this is over. You can still enjoy life, when things look bad something good is just waiting around the corner. You are going to walk around that corner and find out that your problems are finally over. I hope you feel better soon and walk around the corner. Ashtyn I am very happy that you are being so brave, and sure that you are going to feel better. I hope that you will feel better soon.
You are amazing Ashtyn! We know you have everything in you to beat this! Our love, our thoughts, and our prayers are with you!
Ashtyn you stay strong my class wants you to feel better dont cry
Ashtyn I wish I could take the cancer out of you and give it to me you don’t deserve the cancer no body deserves cancer!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could help you in any way
Get well soon
Hey Ashtyn I hope you are feeling better now that you are on the med. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I know that cancer sucks and is hard but you can punch it in the gut whenever you feel like it. Don’t tell yourself that you will die because I know for a fact that you will not. I think that you can kick this. When you feel good just let me know and tell me the best time to come down. The school announced over the intercom to the whole school that if you have a card for miss Ashtyn Poulson please bring them down and we will deliver them to her. through out this whole thing I will be writing you a lot because you just need that little touch to make you get better. The best cure for cancer is the med, friends, family, and most importantly God. Please don’t let that person that I new and still know die in you, because she is still there. I know you want to die because this is sooo hard but just realize that dieing is just as hard as cancer. If God wanted you to die then he would put you in a place where you could die peacefully, but God has not given up yet he will find a way to let a young and beautiful girl like you live. Don’t let God fail on you. Keep your hopes up Ashtyn because you have enough strength to get through this. Best wishes!
-Lex
Hey I love how you are being sooo strong… keep that up! I know that you can get through this! My hopes and prayers are still with you.
Hey I hope you have a happy V-day! Even if your in the hospital you still can’t stop the love on V-day. Hope you feel better soon.
Ashtyn, tell me when I can visit! I miss you at church! I haven’t seen you in two weeks! Have a good Valentine’s Day!! We love and miss you! You will always be in my prayers!!
Hi Ashtyn u are soo brave and cool I am in Morgans class! I hope u feel better!
-Presley Neeley
Hey I just saw what had been posted about your mouth and everything. I will pray and keep you in mind so you can eat. I can even say this myself… “I enjoy eating!” I would definitely eat instead of having a NG tube down my body. Hey Ashtyn, your not the only one in your class that has had a NG tube stuffed down your mouth… when I had my 5 seizure’s in 1 day I specifically remember riding in the ambulance, having a breathing mask, and a NG tube on me. Of course I don’t remember having the seizure because I wasn’t with it when it happened. OK! One more story to keep your hopes up… Last year in 5th grade I found out on January 27th that I had a heart defect. I was gone from school for almost 2 months. It was hard being away from my friends and visiting a doctor twice a week, but I new that God will never give you more than you can handle. It ended up being the heart defect that my dad has, but every twice a year I go get an EKG and echocardiogram done… and I new that God was looking out for me this whole time! And I know he will do the same for you. I wanted to tell you all these stories to lift your spirit and to let you know your not the only one having to go through these hard things. Don’t worry when you see a NG tube because all you have to do is calm yourself and think of what it would be like to be back to normal after all this! I will keep on praying for you! Miss you and keep on being strong!
HAPPY V-DAY!!!!!!
Hey Ashtyn this is Ellyson I hope that you know that we are all praying for you and are hoping that you know to be the boss of your body and not let your body be the boss of you. Now when you aren’t at school we have an “imaginary Ashtyn” to fill in your place. I know you want to go to classic but having to rent the stinky skates and play in bounce houses talk about boring. You will get better and god won’t throw anything at you that you can’t handle. I hope that you feel better soon and your temperature will decrease enough that you will at least be able to walk around in the halls of the hospital. We all hope that you will overcome cancer ( even though I know you will) and will be able to return to school by the end of the year if not then next year!
-Ellyson
Yeah Ash. We all love you at school and hope you can come back soon!
This is Simeon from school I hope you get better soon.It is really hard for everyone.Me and my friend wrote a song and played the guitar at the school for you.We all miss you get better and get back to school as soon as possible
I am so touched. Ashtyn you are my hero! A few months ago I just saw you as a cute girl who I was looking forward to meeting when you came into young women’s, but you guys moved before I could have gotten to know you very well. I am amazed by your strength and your faith. You can overcome this trial and maybe one day we can get to know each other better! You are such a cute girl! Stay strong! <3