Ashlie and I are friends from High School so we have known each other for years. Since I just moved back to Louisville it had been a long time since I had seen her last. It had been so long that I hadn’t even met her family. Needless to say, when she contacted me to do her family photos a couple weeks ago I was more than excited. I could not wait to see her and spend time with her family.

Ashlie and Brad have three beautiful, smart and very funny little girls. Hadley (their youngest daughter) was diagnosed last December, with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. In January, there was a Bone Marrow drive in Hadley’s honor. It was advertised on the local news, Facebook, Twitter, everywhere really. It was really amazing to see. What was also really amazing to see was the day of the Bone Marrow drive. I showed up just 30 minutes after it started and there was already a line down the hallway. In only 30 minutes they had already run out of pre stuffed kits. The volunteers were stuffing kits as you got to the front of the line. I grabbed my kit and went to a corner, swabbed my cheeks and was done. It was so easy and the thought of helping Hadley or anyone’s life gave me chills as I thought to myself, “I hope I am a match”. I felt so proud to have moved back to such a wonderful and supportive town as Louisville.

The drive went on for 4 more hours. They ran out of kits and started helping people sign up online. After the kits would be mailed to them, they swab and mail back. Easy Peasey folks.

There are many ways you can help out the Mercer Family. To learn more about #teamhadley and to become a Bone Marrow Doner, please go to these links:

Caring Bridge (you will have to create and account)

Be the Match (code Hadleyky)

Thank you Mercer Family for inviting me into your home to document your beautiful family. I’m always sending love and energy your way.