Ashley's Final Wish

I am sure that many of you enjoy reading the blog Fishtail Cottage, written by dear, sweet Tracie. I always look forward to reading her posts and admiring the beautiful pictures or her home and gardens. Today, however, she reported very sad news. Tracie's wonderful friend of 30 years, Ashley, has lost her courageous seven year battle with metastatic melanoma at the age of 40. She was first diagnosed when she was only 33.

Tracie and Ashley, Spring 2010

Ashley was a true sun worshipper who sought a golden bronze tan not only from natural sun light, but also from tanning beds. She never thought about the consequences - not too many people do. Melanoma is not revered as dangerous as other cancers are. Many think "Oh, it's just skin cancer, a little bump that the doctor can remove and then it's gone". It seems that simple. We don't realize how silently this cancer can spread and the devastation that it can cause to the human body, such as the multitude of tumors so numerous, that they paralyzed the right side of Ashley's face.

http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/2013/03/my-friend-ashley.html

Ashley's dying wish was to inform as many people as possible of the dangers of sun and tanning bed exposure; in fact, to outlaw tanning beds completely. She wished that nobody would ever have to go through what she has. Ashley felt that if her story could make a difference in just one person's life, could save that one life, it would be a huge victory.

Please click on the link above to read Ashley's complete story, in her own words and to watch her video. If you can, share the posts with family, friends, on your blog or Face Book page - anywhere that the word will get out, so that her legacy can carry on. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Hugs, Leena