Remembering Ashley during CF Awareness Month

Published 8:00 am Friday, May 9, 2014

In honor of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Awareness Month, we remember a Pell City Native, Ashley Brown, who fought the disease until she passed away at the age of 21.  Ashley many of her years spreading awareness for the disease in hopes that one day there will be a cure for it.

Ashley’s mother, Carolyn Brown, is especially hopeful that her daughter’s memory and others like her daughter will raise awareness of this disease that takes so many lives. “This is so important to me because most people do not know what CF is unless they have a family member or friend who is impacted by it.” 

According to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, CF is a life-threatening disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. The disease causes many side effects, which include persistent coughing, lung infections, difficulty breathing and etc. Carolyn says that, unlike some diseases, the side effects are not always outwardly visible.

 “I can’t tell you the number of times I was told, ‘she doesn’t look sick’,” said Carolyn. “It attacks you from the inside. It’s as though our society has the mindset of ‘if you don’t see it, then it doesn’t exist’,” she said. Carolyn believes that if our society were made more aware of CF and the countless amount of young lives it takes every day, then there would be greater strives taken toward research and advancement. 

Carolyn recalled the day Ashley was born, the day they found out that she had CF. Starting on that day, Carolyn watched as her daughter underwent numerous surgeries and countless struggles that came with the disease. “The hardest thing to see was her gasping for air and wanting to breath for her but not being able to and then watching her heart break as she saw a fellow CF friend lose her battle, knowing that she was facing the same destiny,” said Carolyn. Perhaps the biggest hardship that Carolyn faced was watching her daughter spend so much of her life in the hospital, missing out on a normal life and every day things that so many of us take for granted.  

As Carolyn reflected on Ashley, she described her daughter as a strong-willed young lady, who lived life to the fullest. “She was a trusted friend who always saw the best in others,” said Carolyn. Ashley enjoyed taking photos, singing, watching Auburn football and face timing with friends. But one of the passions that she always held most dear was her drive to help find a cure. 

As we acknowledge Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month and remember Ashley and her fight, let us keep her passion alive by raising awareness. With four easy steps, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation shows us how we can help: walk, advocate, educate and connect. To take action and spread the word, visit: http://www.cff.org/GetInvolved/CFAwareness/.