October 2021 update: Unfortunately, the reason for the Growler and St. Baldrick’s has spiked us right in the face once again. Beautiful 5-year-old Ashlyn has relapsed with cancer. She has had to undergo another course of radiation as well as an additional surgery. She and her family will be traveling back to NYC for another treatment in the next week or so. Her mom said she is very upset about all the hair she lost this time.

Please keep the Perkins family in your thoughts and prayers as they continue this long journey and battle with cancer.

Original message: Ashlyn is an amazing girl. Ashlyn has kept a smile on her face and inspired so many people over the last several months. She is 5 years old and has been fighting a cancer diagnosis since May 15, 2020. 

She was initially misdiagnosed and mistreated for the wrong type of cancer for over 2 months. It wasn’t until July 1, 2020 that we received the official diagnosis of Stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma. She has gone through 3 surgeries, 6 rounds of chemo for her correct diagnosis, plus 5 rounds of the wrong chemo, 14 rounds of radiation, she’s finished 4 of 5 rounds of immunotherapy. 

Following her last round of immunotherapy, she will participate in a 5 year vaccine in NYC. She will still be traveling to NYC every 3 months for the next several years. We are blessed that she is currently NED (no evidence of disease). We hope and pray that she remains that way for the rest of her life!

Julie (Ashlyn’s mom)