Ashlynn B. Jackson Foundation

Ashlynn B. Jackson was born prematurely, at 7 ½ months, weighing just 4 pounds, 9 ounces. She faced immediate challenges due to a rapid heart rate and underdeveloped lungs, spending her first two weeks in the hospital. Despite these early struggles at birth, Ashlynn initially led a healthy, active childhood. What was initially believed to be tachycardia when she was born, and after being under the care of a cardiologist until the age of two, it was determined that her heart rate appeared to be normalizing. She did not exhibit any signs that were alarming, so the doctor gave the “all clear.”

When Ashlynn was seven, her heart condition became apparent. What was initially deemed a minor condition at birth and eventually cleared by a cardiologist turned into a long series of hospitalizations, surgeries, and procedures. She was finally diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, which we now believe to be the initial condition when she was born or developed due to not being treated over the years. After undergoing multiple surgeries to fix her heart, which were unsuccessful, Ashlynn was eventually placed on the transplant list. Miraculously, after just 28 days, Ashlynn received a new heart on July 20, 2002, at the age of eight. This transplant extended her life by 8 ½ years, during which she underwent additional treatment and surgical procedures to manage her complex condition. During this journey, Ashlynn discovered a passion for writing.

While in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit, Ashlynn began writing to cope with her heart journey. Initially interested in drawing and music, she found her true calling in poetry. Over the years, she wrote over 300 poems and two plays for children and teens. Her writing became a therapeutic outlet, reflecting her thoughts, hopes, and dreams. She envisioned publishing a poetry book to inspire others facing similar battles and to raise funds for a foundation that could support children and teens affected by heart disease.

In her final years, Ashlynn began to experience multiple heart attacks and heart rejections. Ashlynn’s mother was informed in 2009 that she had end-stage heart failure and did not qualify for another heart transplant. Her health and quality of life began to decline. At the age of 17 in 2010, Ashlynn suffered a major heart attack which damaged 90% of her transplanted heart. The doctors informed Ashlynn that her time was limited, and she was placed in palliative care. Despite this news, she remained resilient and focused on her dreams. She wrote a bucket list of all the things she wanted to accomplish while alive and gave her mother the task to complete it if she did not live long enough to do so.