Leukemia Lessons! Ashley Barth's Leukemia Diagnosis at age 3 was a tough blow! A long treatment schedule of chemotherapy, a regimen of steroids, meds, and spinals was a harsh new reality for the Barth family to adjust to! Initially, Ashley struggled with all the poking and pain but very quickly figured out something that worked and helped Ashley endure (like a real champ) some tough stuff that had to happen at the hospital.
What was Ashley's secret? With a little guidance from a children's book about a hospitalized stuffed animal, Ashley developed a motto for coping. Ashley's mantra: "You Can Be Scared and Brave at the Same Time."
Andie (who is kind of a wimp when it comes to needles, blood, and shots of any sort) was so impressed with Ashley's bravery that she adopted the slogan! Then, our group of friends running the Nike Women's Marathon (dubbed "The A Team" for Ashley and Aiden) made T-shirts with our logo stating: "You Can Be Scared and Brave at the Same Time."
The quote took on a life of it's own for friends and family of Ashley! We all realized that even if/when something scares or frightens us that despite our fear we CAN STILL BE BRAVE! And that's not a bad thought to embrace in this "scary" world out there!
*And best of all, three years later, Ashley just celebrated her 6th birthday, is in remission and doing great!
