A County Durham woman with stage four cancer “remains positive”, with her “miracle” treatment just two weeks away. Ashleigh Patterson was diagnosed with stage four cancer in January, and she has been undergoing chemotherapy ahead of her specialist treatment in Germany.
This was originally scheduled for October 7, but it will now begin on Wednesday, October 21, to give Ash time to regain her strength after the chemo, which she said “takes everything out of you”. Now, she is staying inside at her Seaham home, so she doesn't catch anything before she travels.
Delayed treatment for strength
Ash, 45, said: “I've been weak over the past couple of weeks after my second chemo treatment, it really does take everything out of you. I'm much better now, but to make sure I get stronger for Germany, I'm staying away from everyone, even family and friends.
“The consultants want me at my strongest so they delayed to the 21st, with the original date of the 7th being too close to the round of chemo I’d just had, my white bloods cells would have been too low. It was very disappointing but I have to listen to them, as the last thing I needed was to go there, and then for it all to fall through.”
Fundraising continues
With the flights and hotel booked for two weeks time, fundraising is continuing around Ash, with her GoFundMe page now sitting at £13,978 at the time of writing. Spearheaded by her friend Samantha Howard, over £7,000 has been donated to the cause in just the last two weeks.
On her continued shock at this, Ash added: “When it comes to the fundraising, I am just lost for words, it is averaging another £1,000 a day, I just can't believe it. It is even more incredible that I don't recognise so many of their names, their love, kindness, support, but most of all generosity has astounded me.
“There are people that I worked with 26 years ago when I first started at Nalco who are donating, and contractors that I worked/work with donating over £100. I have been completely blown away, I never realised how loved and respected I was, and it has been really special to see.”
Friends' support and challenge
A particular part of this fundraising is being done by two of Ash's friends, Nicola Reburn and Eleanor O’Shea, who are taking on a three peaks challenge on November 1. There will be a group doing separate fundraising for Ash as part of this as well, with her friend Sam in awe of how she is able to keep looking on the bright side.
Sam also said: “Ash is always trying to see the positives, and giving off as much positivity to other people as she possibly can. She is throwing herself into everything she does, including setting up social media accounts to help with donations, something she has never done before.
“She is so focused on getting herself ready for the treatment, and has been massively overwhelmed by how much people have donated. The smallest amounts of money all add up, so thank you to everyone who has donated, or who is now going to, we have been touched by your generosity.”
If you would like to make a donation to Ash to help lessen the financial load of her potentially lifesaving treatment, you can do so by visiting the fundraising page.
