Join Now
ashleybaltazar 
This entry is about a young girl who was diagnosed with PKD at birth. She inherited this disease from her mother and last year she suffered a brain aneurysm. I am writing a book about her because I feel her story is educational and inspirational. I have also begun a blog about Ashley so that others may come to know her(www.ashleybaltazar.com) and the wonder of her family in facing this medical tragedy. My blog begins with:
"A Life Changed."
Late last spring, I began writing a book about a girl named Ashley Baltazar. I learned about her story when the I was the features editor for a local community newspaper. One day I received a call from a soft spoken gentleman asking me to do a story about a fundraiser for his niece who suffered a brain aneurysm and was fighting for her life in Central DuPage Hospital. My heart was filled with compassion listening to his voice tremble as he talked about the critical condition of this young 19 year old girl.
Having three children of my own in the same age group as Ashley, I thought what would it be like for any of us to say "goodnight" to our son or daughter and minutes later hear a loud noise coming from their bedroom and find them lying on the floor unconscious and struggling to breathe? Could I imagine after having a quiet evening of dinner, scrapbooking, and a movie being in the ER where doctors are telling me to call a priest because my son or daughter is going to die?
Of course this is beyond my comprehension but this is where Ashley's story begins for me. Prior to my knowing her, she was enthusiastic in her young adult life of college, work, boys, and an active social calendar involving both friends and family.
I didn't know Ashley then but I have spent many months interviewing those close to her and there are many fond memories of times spent with Ashley. She calls herself the PrincessNPink because of her love for Cinderella stories and the color pink. Contrary to Cinderella, she doesn't have a wicked stepmother or wicked stepsisters. She is quite blessed with two very loving and amazing parents, (Rob and Cheryl Baltazar) whom she labels as "heroes" on her personal web page.
What she has in common with Cinderella is how her difficulties today cannot keep her from dreaming, and her dreams are wishes of her heart. And like Cinderella, no matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true.
I learn something every moment that I spend with Rob, Cheryl, and Ashley Baltazar and want to share it with you in Ashley's book "Because I Can." As I continue to write, I will share parts of Ashley's story in this blog, and I'm confident that you will find her story educational and inspirational.
