Features

Photo courtesy of the Avens

Ashley Aven, right, celebrates her 18th birthday at her grandma’s house in Palm Springs, Calif. on April 6 with friends and family.  Also pictured:  Ashley’s sister Leticia, 20, in the purple dress, her brother Eric, 14, in the red hat, and her uncle Daniel Perry, 20, on the far left.

By Sara Bruestle
The Beacon

After the doctors at Children’s Hospital told Ashley Aven in January that she had only two months to live, she made a list of all the things she wants to do before she dies.
At the top of the list were trips to the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, Pike Place Market, and a vacation in Palm Springs, Calif. to celebrate her 18th birthday on Apr. 6.
Ashley should be a senior at Meadowdale High School sporting a No. 2 uniform on the school’s varsity softball team, but instead she’s battling terminal cancer.
She was diagnosed last summer with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rare and aggressive disease.  She spent the next six months at Children’s getting rounds and rounds of chemotherapy in preparation for a bone-marrow transplant. 

When the cancer started resisting the third round of chemo, the doctors said there was nothing more they could do and sent the Avens home on Jan. 1.
But Ashley didn’t believe she had just two months left, and she was right. With continued chemotherapy at home, she has managed to keep her cancer in check.  Mar. 1 has passed, Ashley turned 18 in Palm Springs, and now the Avens are ready for May.

“She’s defying all odds,” said Bill Aven, Ashley’s dad.  “We’re just so lucky to be able to live with somebody so strong.  She’s amazing.”
The Avens haven’t asked Children’s to test the percentage of cancer in Ashley’s system since Mar. 22, when lab results showed she was at 10 percent.  Ashley needs to have less than 5 percent of cancer in her system to get the bone-marrow transplant.

But to get rid of the cancer, Ashley would need to go through another round of chemo that doctors said could be deadly.  Instead of risking it, the Avens are opting to continue the chemotherapy Ashley is receiving.

“I don’t really want to mess with something that’s working,” Bill said.  “We’re in a tough spot right now because they still haven’t figured out a new mixture of medicines for another round of chemo that wouldn’t be too strong for her. They still don’t have a cure.”

Ashley now has swelling in her legs and pain in her feet, signs that the cancer is catching up with her.  She’s feeling weaker, but she won’t admit it.

“She’s a little bit more tired… but with support and family and friends around her, mentally it’s been keeping her on the up and up,” Bill said.  “She’s not letting it slow her down.”
Ever since the doctors at Children’s sent her home, Ashley has been very goal-oriented.  She said her list titled “What I Want to do?” helps her focus on something besides the cancer.

“Palm springs was the big goal with her 18th birthday,” Bill said.  “It was something that, at the end of January, we didn’t think we were going to get.  So now we’re just [at home] resting, staying healthy and staying strong.”

When she’s not checking something off her list, Ashley likes to golf at the Harbour Pointe Golf Club in Mukilteo, paint her own pottery at the Glazed & Amazed studio in Edmonds, and go to the Meadowdale varsity softball team’s practices and games.

As honorary assistant coach, it’s Ashley’s job to inspire the team.  On Apr. 16, she was first-base coach for the team during their game against Kamiak.
“It was fun,” she said.  “I’d rather be [playing] on the field, but at least I get to be a part of the team. I still get to go in the dugout and on the field.”

When Bill quit his job in November to be with Ashley at home, friends set up an Ashley K. Aven Foundation with Wells Fargo bank to help the Avens with their medical and household bills. Since January, the foundation has received about $20,000 from the community in donations and fundraisers.

“When you’re told your daughter’s only going to live for two months and she keeps living, you don’t just run out and find a job and spend 40-50 hours a week away from her,” Bill said.  “You want to stay [home] and be with her.”

Heart to Heart Espresso located at 13212 Bothell-Everett Hwy in Mill Creek is hosting a rummage-sale fundraiser on May 1.  About 5-10 families are invited to sell their unwanted items at the espresso stand, with all funds going to help Ashley.

The Glazed & Amazed studio located at 514 Main Street in Edmonds also on May 1 is hosting a pottery-painting fundraiser from 5-9 p.m. with 25 percent of sales going to the foundation.

Also on Ashley’s list was to eat her dad’s lemon chicken, rent “The Blind Side” starring Sandra Bullock, visit a few long-time family friends, go on a trip to Las Vegas in mid-May, go to prom on June 5, and walk with her graduating class on June 19.

“I might add some more stuff on,” she said.  “I just have to think of some stuff to do.”
To donate to the Ashley K. Aven Foundation, go to any Wells Fargo bank or go online to www.paypal.com/sendmoney and specify  HYPERLINK "mailto:ashleykaven@gmail.com" ashleykaven@gmail.com.
For updates on Ashley’s status, visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/ashleykealohaaven.