The Beeler Foundation Current Recipient
Ashley Cramer
Ashley is a beautiful 10 year old young lady. She has a twin, Cooper, and a 13 year old sister Brittany. Her father, Mike, has worked for Young Life, a non-denominational Christian outreach to high school students, for over 20 years. Her mother, Lori, is a stay at home homeschool mom, who volunteers her time with Young Lives, Young Life for pregnant and teen moms.
Ashley has been sick since September 2010. As of January 2011, her diagnosis was Celiac, but she has had severe neurological complications that doctors still have no explanation for. The doctors have struggled with understanding her case since the beginning and we have heard many times, “this is the worst case of Celiac that we have ever seen!” At her sickest moments, due to malabsorption, she had lost almost 20 pounds. She has been in three hospitals, seen many doctors, on a feeding tube for 2 months, and she even stopped walking, talking and eating for several months. Although we are grateful that she has greatly improved, we still have a long way to go. Ashley continues to have head and arm pain and her biggest struggle is her memory. She has no long term memory and remembers nothing about her prior life and what happened this past year. She also has very limited short term memory and can only remember things for about a day or two. This, obviously, makes school very challenging. Despite all this, we received a miracle just this week! She has worn sunglasses inside/outside and all day long due to light sensitivity since February, 10 months, and she just took them off a few days ago!
This year has been an incredible strain on our family financially, physically and emotionally. Our other two children have been amazing, as we have had to leave them for periods of time to be with Ashley in the hospital and they have triumphed over intense moments where we all thought that Ashley might die. They have given up much to make her healing the main priority of our family this year. Our insurance company has met most of our medical bills, but does not cover hotels/travel for hospital stays, any of the many supplements that she takes and any part of the expensive restricted diet that she now follows.
We are committed to Ashley’s complete healing, no matter what it takes. We are confident that the Lord isn't finished with her yet and that He will use her story to further His glory. We honestly believe that Ashley’s story will not only tell of God’s miraculous grace, but also help people medically. We believe that as the answers unfold in Ashley’s sickness, others will benefit that are still looking for answers.
Words can not express our gratitude for the financial assistance that the Lou Beeler Foundation provided. We are deeply grateful that they decided to be apart of Ashley’s story. Our family is sincerely thankful for your prayers and support. We truly could not continue walking this difficult road without the help of organizations such as the Lou Beeler Foundation.
To follow Ashley's story go to www.strength42day.wordpress.com
If you would like to donate to The Lou Beeler Foundation to help with Ashley's medical expenses, send your tax deductible gift to:
Please note Ashley Cramer in the memo line of your check.
The Lou Beeler Foundation
PO Box 5152
Charlottesville, VA 22905
