A Wish for Ashley

It has been a while.  Sure, I have all kinds of excuses for why I haven’t posted since we found Ashley in January.  No internet in Ghana. Complete blog exhaustion. Not wanting to make Ashley uncomfortable by sharing personal details of what has conspired since the day I received her “it’s me” facebook message.  I’m posting tonight though because many of you have emailed and asked for updates, and I’m thankful for all of you and the thousands of hours you spent sifting through information and spreading the word.  So consider this my Oscar Acceptance Speech; my one last send off into the A Wish for Ashley universe:

Thank you, Ashley:  I can’t imagine what this has been like for you.  To go from day to day life to learning that there’s a whole internet following looking for you… you kept an open mind and I’m so thankful for that.  Meeting you two weeks ago and then seeing you again today- I cannot describe what it is like.  Happiness. Completeness. Calm.  I am so excited to get to know you all over again. 

Thank you, Ashley’s Parents: For not thinking I was totally insane. For being her family.  For being you. I look forward to thanking you in person.

Thank you, Mommy: From the ‘this isn’t going to work’ to the ‘it’s her!!! Oh, wait, no! false alarm’ you kept me positive. 

Thank you, Tara: The ONLY consistent guest blogger!  For running A Wish for Ashley West Coast Operations.  For coming home soon!!! Hehehe

Thank you, Kayla: Your TV stunt got this whole thing off the ground.  The Amazing Race will be nothing after this.  Now… ready for Jimmy Fund Walk 2010?!!

Thank you, Beebs: Those papers sold by the thousands simply because you were so good lookin’ on the front page.

Thank you, Fake Step Dad:  For the silent encouragement, transmitted via facial expression. For walking with our team… blisters and all.  For not having a heart attack the night I screamed and woke you up upon receiving Ashley’s first facebook message. 

Thank you, Boyfriend: You inspire me to have these crazy ideas and push me to act on them.  Sanity is overrated- thanks for always reminding me of that.

Thank you Crystal, Peter, David and Erin: For being reporters with serious heart!  I was privileged to have you share our wish. Thank you for the work you do each day.

Thank you, Marissa:  Officemate, you went above and beyond the call of duty.  You wrote the ending to the movie, after all... You are the greatest friend, and I’m honored to have shared space heaters with you. 

Thank you, Denise and Carmen: My second and third mothers?  For believing in family and knowing that, despite the false alarms, it would someday happen. 

Thank you, Super Helpers: You know who you are.  For amateur private investigators, you were all extremely savvy.  For complete strangers, you were all a gift. Thank you for the hours you spent scanning and checking and calling and stalking…

Thank you, A Wish for Ashley-ers: For your hope. Your emails. Your willingness to help out a 25 year old you don’t know simply because you believe in love and family.  Let me tell you, despite the lows, it is all worth it.  So say I love you.  Be there, don’t walk away.  Because you never knew when someone will defy all expectations and inspire you to be the best version of yourself.

Thank you, Uncle Will: For making this happen. I know it was you. I know you’re watching. I love you. 

So that’s all for now from me, and that’s a wrap for A Wish for Ashley.  Will this be the end? For my family and Ashley, definitely not.  For A Wish for Ashley? Who knows.  Maybe others have wishes that need to be granted, maybe our collective power and compassion will prompt us to identify and act on more.  I’ll be on the look out, but for now, I’m going to sleep. 

With love,

Audra