Thankful for Ashley

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Tonight, Katy and I made the trek to Asheville to see Ashley.   

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Our poor friend was in a horrible cycling accident last week and was just discharged from the hospital.  She’s been blogging about her journey, but basically, she shattered her pelvis and had a severe concussion.

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Honestly, I didn’t realize how close we came to losing Ashley until I saw her.  This was no little bike wreck.  Breaking your pelvis in three places is a big, big deal.  And I’m reminded how often I take basic things like the ability to walk and go to the bathroom by myself for granted… I really shouldn’t!  Our health is so precious. 

 

I’m just glad that Ashley survived the accident… I know that Ms. Ironman will bounce back.  She just needs time to heal and recover.

 

So, what gift did we bring Ashley?

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A Kindle!

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A bunch of Ashley’s blogging buddies from Florida (we all used to live in the Sunshine State together) pitched in to buy her the gift.  A big thanks to Katy, Meghann, Megan, Kelly, Callie, Ryan, and DadHTP for contributing!  Ashley really, really loved the Kindle.  I immediately set her up with her first books – The Hunger Games series.

 

Although Ashley has a long road ahead of her, she has her husband Richard, her supportive friends, the online community, and her furkids to help her through.

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Isn’t Charlie the cutest?  He’s blind but is a good snuggler!

 

On the way to Ashley’s, Katy and I grabbed EarthFare hot bar:

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Salad, tofu, mac and cheese, and veggies.

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And two delicious molasses ginger cookies.

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Must get to bed!  10K race in the morning!

{ 36 comments }

 

  • Katie September 16, 2011, 11:13 pm

    So glad your friend is going to be ok. Good luck tomorrow!

  • Deva @ Deva by Definition September 16, 2011, 11:23 pm

    I am so thankful that Ashley is okay. I think a Kindle is a great gift – so many books in one place :-).

    Ashley’s Charlie looks like a smaller version of my Enzo.

  • Chelsea September 16, 2011, 11:24 pm

    Good luck at your 10k tomorrow! I have a kindle and absolutely love itt 🙂 That’s such a great gift to give someone whose going to be recovering for awhile <3 So sweet of all of you!

  • Sana September 16, 2011, 11:26 pm

    I am so happy you got Ashley something to do while she rests, it’s so weird, I just saw her a few weeks ago when she was here in D.C!
    You never know what can happen.

  • M September 16, 2011, 11:26 pm

    What a perfect gift for Ashley-good thinking you guys!

    She has a long stretch of time on her hands during recovery
    and this is such a good idea.nd I am sure just having friends
    show up in person lets her know how she is loved by her many friends.

    Thank goodness she survived and didn’t have a brain injury-that is sadly what happened to an acquaintance of mine and he has had a horrible time of it and really will never be the same. Brain injuries can change the personality of someone-so tough for loved ones.I think brain injuries and
    cycling unfortunately often are go hand in hand…

    • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:16 am

      I am so sorry about your friend 🙁

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) September 16, 2011, 11:53 pm

    I’m so glad to hear Ashley is doing well. I can’t even imagine what she must be going through!

  • Shaya (Eye Girl Eats) September 16, 2011, 11:53 pm

    I’m so glad she’s healing and wasn’t more seriously/permanently hurt from her fall!!

    What a great, thoughtful gift with the Kindle… I love love loved mine, but sold it before school started back up again (I very rarely ‘kick back’ with a book during the school year). I’m sure The Hunger Games will keep her very well occupied for the next few days 🙂

  • Army Amy* September 16, 2011, 11:57 pm

    Great gift idea! Ashley looks like she is in good spirits. It is a good reminder to be safe when biking or runnin, and to not take good health for granted.*

  • Ida September 16, 2011, 11:59 pm

    Wonderful gift! I am sure the company is a nice distraction for her too. Good luck on your 10k!

  • kristen September 17, 2011, 12:30 am

    what a great gift!
    Good luck on your 10k!

  • Corrie Anne September 17, 2011, 1:48 am

    That’s so tough! Way to support her!! Good luck on your 10k!

  • Khushboo September 17, 2011, 1:54 am

    Good luck for the 10km and hope Ashle recovers soon!

  • Krystina (Organically Me) September 17, 2011, 2:24 am

    That’s so sweet! 🙂

  • Sophie @ threetimesf September 17, 2011, 2:53 am

    It’s so scary to think about Ashley’s accident – great present idea!!! You are amazing friends 🙂
    Good luck for the 10k!

  • Jennifer September 17, 2011, 5:46 am

    The Kindle’s a great gift. I was wondering- has Ashley’s accident put you off cycling at all? I saw a friend have a nasty ski accident (after which she had to have surgery) and the next time I went skiing it really played on my mind. Good luck with the 10K!

    • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:16 am

      Not really.. I mean, I think all cyclists should be aware that this (or worse) could happen to them. My dad was a big time cyclist and has crashed and have several bad injuries before, so it’s not like I wasn’t aware.But yea – it sucks and makes me nervous 🙁

  • Lindsey @ Sound Eats September 17, 2011, 6:23 am

    Oh man, wish I had known about the kindle! Still a Florida blogger lol.

    Glad you hooked her up w/ the Hunger Games series! I just read HG the other night in a few hrs. Now I am very impatiently waiting for the other two books to be available at the library!

    Good luck this morning!

    • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:17 am

      Hi Lindsey!!! 🙂

  • Jessica @ Jess Go Bananas September 17, 2011, 6:48 am

    That was so nice of you! Sometimes a little love is the best medicine out there 🙂

  • Hillary September 17, 2011, 7:31 am

    What a great idea for a gift!

    Glad to hear that Ashley is doing better; I’ve been reading her updates, and it’s hard to believe how one second can change everything so quickly.

  • Brittnie (A Joy Renewed) September 17, 2011, 7:33 am

    What a sweet friendship you guys share. You are right… we all need to be thankful for our health and the way our body functions. It is easy to take these things for granted on a daily basis.

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin September 17, 2011, 8:22 am

    What a sweet gift! I’m sure it’ll make being bed-ridden a lot more enjoyable for her. 🙂

  • Katie @ Peace Love and Oats September 17, 2011, 8:54 am

    ok, so my book guess was pretty close! What a perfect gift for her! I hope she’s doing well!

  • Gina @ Running to the Kitchen September 17, 2011, 10:09 am

    That’s such a thoughtful gift. And perfect first few books 🙂 Hope your race went well this morning!

  • Tracy September 17, 2011, 10:45 am

    What a great gift idea! I read Healthy Ashley; her accident has me really torn up. She has such an awesome *spirit* about her – I know she’ll make it back. Long road for sure, but if anyone can do it, it’s Ashley.

  • healthy ashley September 17, 2011, 11:03 am

    I love you so much. Thanks to you, Katy and everyone involved in gifting me something so awesome to help me through this! xoxox

  • kathleen @ the daily crumb September 17, 2011, 11:35 am

    what a sweet and thoughtful gift! the blogging community really is a fabulously supportive group.

  • Amber K September 17, 2011, 11:46 am

    Oh! Yay that she is home already. I’m sure it’s nice to at least have the ability to sleep without people coming in and out of your room all night. The Kindle is such a great gift idea! That’s so thoughtful of you all 🙂

  • April @ Grits and Granola Bars September 17, 2011, 2:17 pm

    I am so glad to see Ashley hasn’t lost her beautiful smile through all this pain. She’ll see the other side of this thing for sure. <3

  • Ali @ Ali Runs September 17, 2011, 4:13 pm

    I still can’t believe how intense Ashley’s accident was. It is crazy to think that something so routine as going for a bike ride, ended with her in the hospital. I’m glad she has such a supportive group of friends to lift her up in this challenging time.

  • Alaina September 17, 2011, 5:12 pm

    I am so glad to hear that Ashley is home and resting and seems to be doing ok! She looks in good spirits in your pictures. 🙂 What a nice gift!!

  • Jess@atasteofconfidence September 17, 2011, 5:57 pm

    Very nice to hear she is home and recovering. You guys are great friends!

  • Liz September 17, 2011, 6:22 pm

    So glad Ashley was able to go home! It looks like even though she’s got a rough recovery ahead of her, she’s in good spirits 🙂

    Awesome gift for her, by the way! I love my Nook and I loved the Hunger Games series 😀

  • Reenie September 19, 2011, 10:35 pm

    I used to check in on Ashley’s blog every now and then….and have kept up with her recovery. How cute is that lil Charlie 🙂

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