Support Ashley & Her Family!

Thinking of you, Ashley dear.

Rosemary — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 03:00:51 +0000

I wanted to share this song in honor of Ashley Ames ~December 21, 1986-July 6, 2010.

We love and miss you dearly, Ashley. Whether we had the opportunity to meet or not, the world is a better place because we were graced with your beautiful life. We will never tire of the light you provide us from shining your stars : )

Jem- You will make it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki3Y27Ju-D0

Go to bed everything’s alright
Don’t know the whole
world’s changing
As you sleep through the night
Wake up slowly and it’s a
different world

Hear the news and the
floods begin
Screams so loud but only
felt within
Heart is shattered
The pieces can’t be found

I feel your pain, I wrote this
song for you, for you
You will make it, you will
make it through
I promise you, he would
want you to

Months go by, still living
in a daze
Don’t know what you’ve done
With the last seven days
Soul is numb and life
is like a dream

Helping hands but you
push them away
How could they understand
Don’t wanna share your pain
Afraid to heal, ’cause that
would mean goodbye

I feel your pain, I wrote this
song for you, for you
You will make it, you will
make it through
I promise you, she would
want you to

Olele Olele Ubaba

One day sunlight hits
a photograph
And it makes you smile
The memories dance
around you now
And they make you smile
You’re not alone
You’ll never be
Just like the stars
They oversee
And they whisper to you
You’re still, you’re still,
You’re still, you’re still alive

I feel your pain, I wrote this
song for you, for you
You will make it, you
will make it through
I promise you, they would
want you to

Do not stand at my
grave and weep
I am not there I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds
that blow
I am the diamond glints
on snow
I am the sun on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awaken in the
morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight
I am the soft stars that
shine at night
Do not stand at my grave
and cry
I am not there; I did not die

We love you so much Ashley. We can feel your love all around us : )

We already miss you Ashley!

Rosemary — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:30:29 +0000

In the afternoon of Tuesday, July 6 2010, our dear Ashley passed on. She was in no pain, and her family and friends were with her. She was so brave and fought very hard for 39 days, but her injuries were just too severe.

The money we have raised so far for Ashley will go to help cover funeral expenses and other financial burdens the family may have during this difficult time. Any money left over will go to the Ashley Ames Scholarship Fund so that other independent young adults like Ashley may be less burdened in their dream of attending college.

We are moving forward with the Art Show Benefit, “Ashley Fest” at the Indigo Art Gallery in Champaign on July 29, 30, 31, as a way to honor and celebrate Ashley’s life. Proceeds from this event will go to her Scholarship Fund.

There will be a visitation for Ashley open to everyone at the Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora, Illinois, Saturday, July 10 from 5-8 PM.

For directions, check their website:

http://www.webfh.com/fh/home/home.cfm?&fh_id=11611&ck=1

There will be a Candlelight Memorial walk from the house, 814 W. Stoughton St. in Urbana, at 8:00 PM on Sunday, July 25, which will conclude at the Independent Media Center @ 202 S. Broadway (in the same building as the Post Office) for people to share stories and memories about our dear Ashley. Feel free to write a letter to Ashley or her family & friends, or bring pictures.

Thank you all so much for your continued love and support. Each and every donation has provided the family and friends with such comfort, knowing that people love and care about Ashley. Strangers and friends alike have come together, and through your generosity this fund has provided comfort and fiscal support for the family through this time of hardship. The donations will continue to help make dreams come true.

“Life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.” R. W. Raymond

Ashley, you are in our hearts and thoughts always. We will see you in everything good and beautiful in this world. Until we meet again, we love and miss you more than words can describe!♥♥♥

“And we all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun.” J. Lennon

After all, we are all just made of stars. Shine on Ashley, we love you!

Thank you so much!

Rosemary — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:59:31 +0000

I just wanted to thank everyone for their donations. Ashley is a very independent person. This is going to help her become that again! I want to thank all of you for everything, you have know idea of what this means to me, and how she is going to know that so many people are there for her. I want to thank you in Ashley’s behalf because I know that she will be amazed by the amount of support she has. I also want to thank all involved in this. Again, Thank You for all your kindness. Ashley’s mother, Trina

My blue eyed girl, Ashley I Love You. She has a long road ahead of her, but she is going to do great things.

“We make living by what we get, we make life by what we give.” Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

This is Ashley’s brother Nick I’m 13. I want to thank all of you for your donations. She is my sister and she is going to be alright I know it. I love her and so does my sister and everyone else. She is looking better from the first day or two so she will get better, I just know it.

Practical Donations for Ashley’s Family

Rosemary — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:34:00 +0000

Ashley’s family is doing everything they can to be near Ashley during this hard time. Her immediate family is staying in a motel outside of the Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, and everyone else is driving back and forth from Flora as much as possible. Unfortunately the Red Cross can’t help with her family’s expenses because they were not directly victims of the fire. The Ronald MacDonald House also can’t help because Ashley is over 21.

Also, Ashley is staying in a “clean room” as to avoid any risk for infection, so no flowers are permitted by her bed. Instead of sending flowers to the hospital, how about sending gas cards?

If anyone wants to donate gas cards or money specifically for the family, please send an email to ashleydonationfund@gmail.com and indicate that you would like your donation to go specifically to practical expenses for Ashley’s family.

Thank you so much for your love and support! Every thought, prayer, message, and donation brings comfort to her family!

Update

Rosemary — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 04:21:11 +0000

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! So far we’ve raised $25,000 and are still accepting donations for the Ashley Ames Scholarship Fund.

Ashley’s mother, father, brother, sister, grandmothers, and the rest of her extended family thank you so much for your thoughts, prayers, and generosity!

Donate Now

Rosemary — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:34:01 +0000

Click here to donate and help support Ashley and her family during this hard time.

You can also mail a check payable to Ashley Ames Fund, P.O. Box 661, Urbana, IL. 61803 OR

You can drop off checks/cash deposits payable to Ashley Ames Fund @ Centrue Bank, 1001 S. Neil St. Champaign, Il 61820

Spread the Word with Flyers!

Rosemary — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:32:32 +0000

For anyone who wants to help spread the word about Ashley’s story, click on the following link to download a copy of the Ashley Ames Fund Flyer. You can print them off from your home printer. (Requires a PDF reader like Adobe)

Thank you so much for your kindness!

http://ashleyamesfund.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/ashley-ames-fund2.pdf

Benefits and Other Events for Ashley

Rosemary — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:56:22 +0000

The community is really coming together to support our dear Ashley : ) For news about charity events, shows, & auctions,visit the following link.

http://www.supportashleyames.com/

Thank you for your donation!

Rosemary — Sat, 29 May 2010 01:52:52 +0000

Click here to donate and help support Ashley and her family during this hard time.

You can also mail a check payable to Ashley Ames Fund, P.O. Box 661, Urbana, IL. 61803 OR

You can drop off checks/cash deposits payable to Ashley Ames Fund @ Centrue Bank, 1001 S. Neil St. Champaign, Il 61820

News Stories about the Fire

Rosemary — Fri, 28 May 2010 23:28:51 +0000

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/5953250-early-morning-house-fire-leaves-one-in-critical-condition

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/news/2010-05-28/one-injured-police-officer-gets-others-out-burning-house-urbana.html