Dear Friends, Families, and Community Members,
We’re reaching out to ask for support for a beloved educator, Ashley Trahan, a dedicated middle school science teacher who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Her passion for teaching and her care for students have made a lasting impact on countless young lives. Now, she needs our help.
In the face of this life-altering diagnosis, Ashley has had to pause her pursuit of a doctorate in education, a goal she’s worked toward for years, to focus fully on healing. Despite the physical and emotional toll of this journey, she is committed to staying connected to the classroom. This summer, she’ll be teaching high school algebra during summer school, all while undergoing surgery and radiation treatments. This work will help alleviate some of the financial strain, but it won’t come close to covering the full cost of her care, especially in the early stages of treatment.
If you know Ashley, you know she finds joy and restoration in the outdoors—swimming, paddle boarding, and snorkeling with the fishes. These simple outlets will be on hold for a while as she prioritizes rest and recovery. Her goal is to regain her strength and return to teaching full-time by the start of the next school year and resume her doctoral studies soon after.
The cost of cancer treatment is overwhelming. Surgery, radiation, and recovery time come with significant medical and personal expenses. While she continues to work through the summer, she’s doing so under physical strain, and any financial relief will allow her to focus more fully on healing. Her insurance plan requires her to meet a $9,000 deductible before any co-pays begin, making the beginning of this journey especially daunting. In addition, the hormone therapy essential to her recovery is not covered by her insurance, leaving her responsible for the full cost out-of-pocket.
We are asking for your help to ease the financial burden on Ashley so she can focus on what matters most—healing and preparing to return to the work and life she loves. Your donation, no matter the size, will go directly toward covering her medical expenses and the basic costs of living during this incredibly challenging time.
Funds will go directly toward:
- Surgery and radiation treatments
- Uncovered hormone therapy
- Meeting her insurance deductible
- Essential recovery costs
With deep gratitude,
Nik and Ashley
