I couldn’t say it better than Shelley. “I can’t wait to dedicate our family’s fast for Ashtyn this Sunday so that her white blood cell count will go up and that she can go and spend time with her family, and that her rash and sores in her mouth heal quickly. I have never been so excited to look forward to a day of fasting. Ashtyn’s Army, here is our chance to fast. I think it would be nice if we all close our fast at the same time and try to get everyone to kneel down (on Sunday) at 5:00 pm and say a prayer. There is power in numbers. Then, let’s sit back and watch as miracles happen!”
Ashtyn is in need of your prayers and fasting. We are asking anyone who can to fast and pray Saturday into Sunday. She is in need of three specific blessings. 1. For her rash to go away. 2. For her throat to feel better. 3. For her total white blood cell count to go up and her ANC to rise to 1000.
Please pray that her full body rash will disappear so that she is no longer itchy and uncomfortable. Pray that her throat will heal and stop hurting so she can eat and drink without pain or difficulty. Also, Ashtyn really needs to produce enough white blood cells to go home soon, recover further at home, and be able to go to Disneyland in a couple weeks before having to return to the hospital. The doctors agreed that if Ashtyn’s absolute neutrophil count (ANC, the number of white blood cells that fight infection) increases to 1000, she can go to Disneyland. Ashtyn has a ways to go. Currently her ANC is zero. Our hope and prayer is that Ashtyn will be able to recover from this round of chemo enough to have an ANC of at least 1000. We would love for her to enjoy a week at home followed by four days in Disneyland before heading back to the hospital for another month of chemo. As Shelley said, there is power in numbers. With your faith, fasting, prayers, and positive thoughts, I expect to sit back and watch as miracles happen.
The ODells’ commented, “Ashtyn and all the family, we are offering our prayers at daily mass (and during the day and night) for a speedy recovery and alleviation of the pain and discomfort. We keep in touch through your daily postings and marvel at the outpouring of love from “your Army.” We love you all and look forward to the posting of you walking out that door and saying “Disneyland, here I come!”
That’s our goal. “Disneyland, here we come!”
“There is power in unity and there is power in numbers.” – Martin Luther King
Ashtyn’s daily gratitude journal: “Today I am grateful for socks, the ability to be able to walk, comfy pajamas, nice nurses, and my mom.”
12 responses to “24 Hour Focus”
I have been reading your posts for a few days now. I love your quotes from different LDS leaders. My husband lost his job a month ago and we have four boys at home. Somedays all I feel like doing is crying, but then I read your posts and your testimony and it gives me strength to go on. We don’t know the reason for our trials but I do know they serve a purpose and make us better people. One of my favorite quotes is from Orson F. Whitney, “All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our character, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God…..”” We will be fasting and praying for Ashtyn :)”
I came across Ashtyn’s Army through a posting on my friend’s facebook page this morning.
I want to thank you for sharing Ashtyn’s story and allowing us (me) the opportunity to fast and pray on her behalf. Prayer is a powerful tool and one of the greatest gifts we can offer another.
My family is quite familiar with leukemia. My husband was diagnosed in 1989. Because of Jeff’s illness and example we have 3 family members and un-numbered others registered with the National Marrow Registry. One of the many blessing is 8 years ago my son was a bone marrow donor contacted through the National Registry. We were told the recipient was a 10 year old girl and later learned her name is Katie. Today Katie is cancer free, last year she graduated high school and has now entered college!
Heavenly Father knows and loves us and has great plans for Ashtyn. Ashtyn, you, your doctors & nurses and all your family will continue to be in my prayers.
Ashtyn I hope that your ANC will rise to 1000 and you will be able to go to Disneyland! Your lucky ur missing school! We had to take a word study, CNN, and science test is week! I hated all of the tests!
I am so proud of you guys!! I will fast for you!!!! Lets get those white blood cells up to 1000!!!! I know we can do it!!!! We have fasted for you before!!!! As I always say for no particular reason, LETS DO THIS POO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! … Yeah … I’m weird… Love you guys!!!! Hang in there Ashtyn!!!! Love you like a sister!!!!
Ashtyn you have been in our thought and prayer over the last month, May I just say that you are my hero, so brave,strong and beautiful. I found this thought on pinterest “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have””. Your army is strong and here for you. We will fast and prayer for you to get well and on your way to the happiest place on earth home and Disneyland! Wish I could come and give you a ride on the golf cart! Love you and your family! Your old home teachers!”
i hope that your ANC will rise to 1000! Im sure if every one prays and fasts then you will be up to 1000 in know time! Wishing you the best!
-Lex
Oh, I forgot to mention (I know I forgot something…) I hope you ANC will rise to 1000
I will fight for ashtyn till the end. I want her to know how much I care about her so super much ; )
Ashtyn,
I never did know you that well but I could tell that you are a awesome freind to have. When you enter a room everyone smiles. You brighten the world. You are funny, nice, beatuful, and an all out amazing person. Feel better soon.
Love,
Grace <3
Ashtyn I’m going on a fast for you tomarrow and I will pray for the best to happen. I hope your ANC will rise to 1000 soon.
Ashty on I am so sorry about what’s going on with you I hope you are feeling better I nos you are going through a stage in your life right now like you feel like life is bad I want you to now your family is there for you and your friends I am I now that life is like magic it can be good and bad well that is how it is to be God is doing this for a reason we don’t now why he is doing this but you can do it your strong and you can do anything you have always been nice to me I will pay for you