Transplant Type - Heart

Last year, Ashley began experiencing breathing difficulties and stomach pains and was rushed to the emergency room. Tests soon revealed her problems were caused by a heart condition. A team of cardiologists ran additional tests, and Ashley was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy, which causes the heart to stiffen and prevents the heart chambers from properly filling with blood. Doctors said a heart transplant was critical to her survival.

Thankfully, she received her lifesaving transplant in June 2010 and is recovering well.

Although Ashley is experiencing side effects from her medications, such as head and stomach aches, she is grateful for the opportunity to receive a second chance at life. Ashley should be enjoying her favorite activities of cheerleading and acting like other high school students, not worrying about her health issues. She looks forward to resuming her normal life without the pain she is dealing with now. Ashley loves to help others and one day hopes to graduate from college and become a doctor. But right now, she needs your help.

A heart transplant costs approximately $750,000. And that's only the beginning. Even with health insurance, Ashley faces significant medical expenses related to her transplant. For the rest of her life, she will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month--and they are as critical to her survival as the transplant itself.

Ashley's parents have exhausted all their paid time off from work to be at the hospital and at doctors' appointments with their daughter, adding to their financial strain.

You can help.
To make a donation to NFT in honor of Ashley, click the link below her photo. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT Georgia Heart Fund, 5350 Poplar Avenue, Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write "in honor of Ashley Perry" on the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta