Miss Ashton Grace Giddens

For those wondering about Ashton, the following storyboard will fill you in.

For those wondering about the IR-RU, this benefit, and/or money raised, scroll to the bottom of this page.  

Ashton Grace Giddens was born 12/11/2001 with a very rare and complicated birth defect (Cloacal Exstrophy) which only occurs once in every 250,000 births.  Along with the Cloacal Exstrophy, Ashton has Spina Bifida which is one of the most common birth defects.  How ironic that the same little girl could have BOTH a very rare and a very common birth defect. A couple other defects in regard to Ashton’s nervous system are Hydrocephalus and Arnold Chiari malformation.  She also has Brachial Plexus (nerve damage) in her right arm.

During Ashton’s first year of life she endured 15 surgeries with first occurring at only 3 days old.  Eleven of these surgeries where shunt (brain) surgeries due to her Hydrocephalus and her body continually rejecting shunts.  In January 2003 Ashton’s neurosurgeon performed a 3^rd Ventriculostomy (brain surgery) and by the Grace of God, Ashton has not required a shunt for her Hydrocephalus.  This was a God send because on a couple a previous occasions, the neurosurgeon had us call in our families because he didn’t think Ashton was going to make it. A child as frail as she was could not continue to endure brain infections and surgeries. In 2004 she had 2 additional surgeries, so by the age of only 3 years old she has already endured 18 surgeries (more than a person should have to undergo in a lifetime). Unfortunately, Ashton will require more surgeries along the way.

 For Ashton, her Spin Bifida has caused her lower leg paralysis.  Therefore she requires a wheelchair for mobility, Ashton currently has a mechanical wheelchair which she got in 2003.  Due to her Brachial Plexus injury in her right arm, Ashton can not effectively maneuver herself in the mechanical wheelchair and at 23 lbs. continuous wheeling in the manual chair weighing over 30+ lbs., she would need rotator cuff surgery at a very young age.  Although she handles herself very well in her mannual chair, Ashton is a very strong and determined little girl.  “ Can’t “ is simply not in this child’s world.

About the IR-RU FAMILY SOCIAL CLUB and IR-RU Sponsored Benefit Functions the 

Please be aware that the IR-RU FAMILY SOCIAL CLUB is a Charitable, Non-Profit Organization. As such, ALL money raised by this benefit will go to The Miss Ashton Fund.  We do not have state, regional or national organizational overhead or dues that reap 'a percentage' of the money, nor do we 'dip into' any money raised to offset any overhead or expenses of any kind. Our overhead and expenses are offset solely by the volunteered donations of time, money and effort by our membership.

Our motto is "United We Stand . . . Together We Git-Er-Dun"