Valley Woman Inspires Many with Cancer Blog

Aside from chemotherapy, Ashley Hackshaw, 34, of Palm Desert, prescribed a medicine of her own — called Lil Blue Boo. It’s a blog dedicated to DIY craft projects, her handmade clothing line, and now a combination of her heartfelt “Cancer Chronicles.”

“I’m very honest, I don’t hold anything back. I talk about bowel movements, cancer, lack of sleep, and being a parent,” said Hackshaw.

Last year, Hackshaw had to overcome many obstacles, she lost her father in May and just weeks after, she had a miscarriage. In October, Hackshaw’s next attempt to get pregnant turned out to be a molar pregnancy, which resulted in a form of cancer starting in the uterus, called Choriocarcinoma. The cancer spread and she had to have an emergency hysterectomy.

“Just seeing how ashley has dealt with all of these curve balls has inspired me,” said Lisa Walker, Hackshaw’s assistant.

Hackshaw’s sharing her story with the world, what she calls her “life journal that people can relate to.” With every challenge, creative idea, or moment of appreciation — comes a new blog post. Some days getting two comments and others, 500 comments. With about one million page views a month.

In a video posted on her blog in January, Hackshaw shaves her hair off with the help of her friends, mom, husband, and five-year-old daughter Sienna — calling it a “Rite of Passage.” Her mother surprised her by shaving her own head first, so Sienna wouldn’t be afraid of Hackshaw bald.

“I want people to know theirs a choice between despair, I have cancer but it’s not who I am. I have it,” said Hackshaw.

Each day, good or bad, she’s decided to “Choose Joy” as her way of life. Friends and family of hers, pass out wristbands to encourage others to do the same and inspire them to live a creative life.

“I think everyone has a creative side, even if they think they don’t have a creative bone in their body, they can do something,” said Hackshaw.

To check out Hackshaw’s blog and handmade clothing line go to www.lilblueboo.com