Young woman’s cancer fight is a community effort

Ashleigh Lowery is a college student with a goal born of personal hardship. She wants to be a child life specialist.

That’s someone who works at a hospital helping children and families cope with the fears and stresses of serious illnesses and injuries. At 25, the Snohomish woman knows plenty about those things, even without the education she’s getting at Seattle Pacific University, where she’s an individual and family development major.

“I feel like my life now is totally defined by cancer,” Lowery said Wednesday.

In November of 2008, after months of lower back pain, other symptoms and many tests, she was diagnosed with two types of cancer, plasmacytoma and non-Hodgkins MALT (mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue) lymphoma. Together, Lowery said, her rare disease is called plasmacytoid MALT-lymphoma.

She is being treated by Dr. Pamela Becker of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. On Feb. 18, 2009, she had surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center to remove two tumors and part of her colon.

Lowery said doctors have told her that although her cancer is a low-grade lymphoma, it has a high rate of reoccurrence. After oral medications and weekly intraveneous infusions of a drug called Rituximab, she is now undergoing chemotherapy. She goes twice a week to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Last week, she had a port implanted in her chest to aid delivery of the medication.

As if all those challenges weren’t enough, she faced economic disaster with the approach of her 25th birthday in September. She would no longer be covered by her parents’ health insurance. As the health care debate hits fever-pitch in Congress, losing coverage is a problem faced by many young adults. It’s especially acute when a person such as Lowery has a pre-existing condition, making affordable health insurance nearly impossible to get.

“If you have a pre- existing illness, you’re penalized,” said Lowery, who not only takes university classes, but works part-time at the Purple Cafe in Woodinville.

In Lowery’s case, help has come from the Rick Pankow Foundation, an Issaquah-based nonprofit organization. The foundation was started in 2001 in memory of Rick Pankow, a 43-year-old who died of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Dave Brasher, a foundation spokesman, said the group’s board learned of Lowery’s predicament and approved paying for her COBRA health insurance and other medical expenses.

Although more expensive than other coverage and only temporary, COBRA lets Lowery continue her treatments. It can’t cover it all. Medical bills just keep coming.

That’s where friends come in. On Friday evening, at Hidden Meadows in Snohomish, a “Hope in the Face of Cancer Gala” is being held to help with Lowery’s medical expenses. It’s a dinner-dance and auction at the wedding venue owned by the Stocker family, with food donated by Mardini’s Restaurant and other businesses. Organized by Shannon Frediani and Lisa Kihm, whose children attended school with Lowery, the gala is sold out.

“She’s so grateful for any help,” said Frediani, who owns Salon Ambience in Snohomish and whose daughter played soccer with Lowery. “She’s not feeling real good right now. She’s excited for this. So many people in this community came together, it’s just amazing,” Frediani said.

Lowery’s hopes for the future go beyond career. Someday, she wants to become a mother.

On Aug. 4, before having the harsh chemotherapy that could affect fertility, Lowery had surgery through Seattle Reproductive Medicine to have her eggs removed and preserved. None of that was covered by insurance. Lowery calls Dr. Amy Criniti of Seattle Reproductive Medicine “my angel” for giving her a $1,000 “scholarship” and allowing her to make payments. She had to take hormones, and those medicines were covered by a program of the Lance Armstrong Foundation called Fertile Hope.

Hope and help are getting her through.

Lowery said she trusts in God. “And I have been very fortunate over the past year to have the support of so many people,” she said.

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460, muhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Benefit planned

Ashleigh Lowery, a 2003 Snohomish High School graduate, has been battling a rare type of lymphoma since 2003. A sold-out dinner-dance and auction to help with her medical expenses will be held Friday night at Hidden Meadows in Snohomish. To learn more or make a donation: www.ashleighlowery.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide. (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Lynnwood
Lynnwood police: 1 suspect in custody, 1 at large after attempted carjacking

Beverly Elementary School went into a precautionary lockdown Thursday afternoon. Numerous officers continue to search for the second suspect.

Candidates announce campaigns for Everett city council seat

Ryan Crowther, founder of the Everett Music Initiative, will challenge incumbent Paula Rhyne for the District 2 seat.

Lynnwood City Council Vice President Julieta Crosby speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood picks top eight candidates to replace former council VP

The City Council will make its final decision Feb. 20 after interview process.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.