Ashley’s mother, Shelly Morgan, learned so much from her daughter. When Ashley was 4 years old, her babysitter’s neighbor was not the friendliest of women. She was the “stereotypical grumpy old woman neighbor,” Shelly said. When Shelly picked Ashley up one night, the neighbor was shooing a squirrel with a broom. Ashley walked up to her and – at knee-level – called her by name and said, “That’s not very nice. We don’t treat animals that way.”

“After that, she just turned around and walked away. I was flabbergasted. I didn’t even have the courage to talk to this lady like that,” Shelly said.

Ashley’s kind heart translated to humans as well. Shelly was in her usual rush after work to pick up 5-year-old Ashley and run some errands. They stopped at the grocery store and then walked next door to the dry cleaners, where an older woman struck up a conversation with Shelly and Ashley.

Ashley was passionate about helping others, and she was not afraid to show up and take action.

“She remained that way through her adult life even though her resources to take action were limited. It was common for me to get a call from her when she would hear about people or animals who needed help. I remember she called me one time and asked if I heard about what was going on in Iowa with these dogs and that we needed to do something,” Shelly said.

Ashley’s love for animals knew no bounds. She also enjoyed horseback riding – even when it might not have gone so smoothly.

“I was watching her ride a horse, and he took off on her, and she’s screaming. When I finally caught her, I said I’d help her get down, and she said, ‘No, let’s do it again!’ She would be terrified of something but would still do it. If it were me, I would sit back and not do it because it scared me,” Shelly said.

Young Ashley loved baby dolls and Barbies. She enjoyed tea parties and dressing up with vintage costume jewelry. She was always generous with hugs and kisses. She frequently had a craft project in progress usually involving glitter that had to be cleared from the table before dinner. As she got older, Ashley created a safe, non-judgmental space for others. She took the time to make everyone’s birthday special. She enjoyed playing volleyball and exceled in swimming – and she spent hours in whatever body of water was close. Music was her constant companion, and her taste was eclectic, ranging from Jewel and Grace Potter to Tupac and Breaking Benjamin. She even had the Breaking Benjamin Celtic knot tattooed on her wrist, though her favorite song was “A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men. She was fascinated by Maya Angelou, and she enjoyed writing stories. She played photographer and specialized in candid photos of her family and friends. And then there was Ashley’s obsession with cats.

“While driving back from the store one winter, Ashley spied a couple kittens in the field. They ran from her when she got out of the car, so I went to the house to get a can of tuna. When I got back, all that I saw of Ashley were her boots sticking out of a culvert! When I pulled her out through the snow and slush, she had an armful of three kittens,” Shelly said.

Ashley was compassionate, considerate and always wanted to help. She was a sensitive empath who could literally feel the pain of those around her.

“Ashley didn’t have the emotional tools to deal with all the pain she saw even if it was minor. She didn’t know where to put it or how to move through it,” Shelly said. “I think that’s what caused Ashley to become involved with drugs – it gave her a way to walk forward.”

Ashley’s big feelings were present even when she was a little girl. Shelly fostered kittens, and one from the litter was not going to make it. Seven-year-old Ashley had a strong reaction.

“Ashley dropped to her knees and down to the kitten, and she put her hands up to either side of her face. She was consumed with the pain of losing this kitten” Shelly said. “I can still see her doing that. It was such an adult thing to do.”

Another adult thing Ashley did many years down the road was express the deep love she had for her children – Madison, Brayden and Aubry. They were “very special to Ashley, and there was no question how much she loved them,” Shelly said.

Shelly could not see Ashley or her grandchildren as much as she would have liked, as Ashley’s drug addiction caused some distance.

On the evening of September 27, 2016, after feeding the kids and getting them ready for bed, Ashley went out to buy drugs. She thought she was buying heroin but it turned out to be fentanyl, which caused her to overdose in a ditch.

Ashley was care flighted to Premier Health – Miami Valley Hospital. When Shelly arrived at the hospital, she was not prepared for the severity of the situation, as Ashley had overdosed before. But this time was different. Sadly, on September 29, 2016, 32-year-old Ashley passed away. But that day, Ashley’s compassion for others shined bright, and she gave the gift of life through organ donation.

Shelly remembers having a conversation with Life Connection of Ohio’s Family Services Coordinators.

“They were so patient and kind, and I felt surrounded by unconditional love. I immediately refocused and felt like there was a weight lifted because Ashley’s transition was so unexpected. When someone dies suddenly, it’s like an abyss and you’re floating in between two realities. Days before, they were in your life, and you could touch them and see them and smell their perfume – and then there’s the reality that that person is gone. I remember looking at her and saying, ‘This is it? This is all there is?’ It was almost like her life never even happened, and then when I found out she could give through organ donation, it was like a spark of life not just for the three recipients but for me because it gave me hope and purpose,” Shelly said.

Shortly after Ashley gave the gift of life, Shelly began volunteering for Life Connection of Ohio as a way to stay connected to her daughter and to encourage others to consider registering as donors.

“I try to tell anyone where it’s relevant and even when it’s not so relevant about the miracle of organ donation. Life Connection gives me a home and a place where it’s ok to still talk about what magic it is both for me and the recipients,” Shelly said.

Organ donation turned a tragedy into something positive for Shelly.

“Life Connection makes me feel like Ashley is close and not so far away – like she’s not untouchable. Because of organ donation, part of her is still physically in my realm of living. Wow!” Shelly said.

Ashley’s ability to Donate Life and the support of Life Connection of Ohio has helped Shelly move forward.

“Organ donation is such a goosebump moment, and I embrace the magic of it. I was given a gift to be part of that magic. I am so grateful for the experience, and I wouldn’t change a thing,” Shelly said. “For Ashley, giving to other people was a way of life, so her final gift of organ donation sums up the way she lived her life. There is a joy and there is a closure of knowing that she saved three lives. What a beautiful ending!”