Tributes

Ashlye Stiles

March 13, 1979 - July 4, 2009


Not a minute of Ashlye Nannette Stiles' 30 years was spent without a smile.  She was born in Dallas , TX and even though her last years were spent in New Mexico , she remained a Texan through and through.   A 1997 graduate of Conroe High School , she was a star track athlete and social doyenne.  Most of her adult life was spent working for Southwest Airlines in both their management offices and as a flight attendant.   There wasn't a Buffett song she didn't know the words to or a Dallas Cowboy game she missed.     She was a daughter, granddaughter, niece, little sister, best friend, and most importantly, a mother.  Her 11 year - old son, Taylor, was not only the light of her life, but her twin.   He mirrors her precociousness, inner and outer beauty, and her zest for life.   Ashlye was diagnosed with on-set Type 1 diabetes in her early 20's, and gave it a good fight for 10 years.  She never let on the true mental and physical suffering.   Ashlye left this world and all those she touched on July 4th, 2009. 

 Building on her strength, determination and spirit, it is in her memory that her family, friends, the Brooke Ellison Project and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute will work toward the advancement of stem cell research in hopes to one day eradicate this and other horrible chronic illnesses.   Working together, we are establishing The Brooke Ellison Project Ashlye Stiles Fellows, an internship scholarship for undergraduate students interning next summer at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.  Through this scholarship, we hope to encourage more great minds to work with the existing brilliant researchers who strive each day to make diabetes a condition of the past.  The Harvard Stem Cell Institute represents many of the most preeminent and accomplished researchers in the field, and we hope to assist their efforts.

On October 15, the Stiles family and The Brooke Ellison Project will be holding a fundraiser for this deeply important and personal initiative.  For more information, please email us at info@brookeellisonproject.org.  If you would like to contribute to this effort but cannot attend the event, please click here to make a donation, and specify Ashlye Stiles name.

Dear Miss Ellison,

Having just watched your TV film and being reduced to tears, I would just like to take this opportunity to thank you for giving us all hope with our lives.  My daughter has no disabilities as such but is working her way through school. I hope that after seeing this film it has given her extra impeduce to succeed and that nothing is impossible. Thank you so very much.
 
Andy (United Kingdom)

Dear Brooke,

Yesterday the film of your life was televised on UK TV. I watch it and found myself really gripped.  I would like to thank you for allowing yourself to be that vulnerable that you have the intrusion of screen playwrights etc involved.

Thank you again

Mike

Hello Brooke,

I have just watched the film made about you and your mum. You and your family have an amazing story to tell and thank you for sharing it with me.

My life is very ordinary and humdrum but I also, am blessed with the love of a wonderful family which has supported me all through the highs and lows that life presents us with.

My email to you is just a thank you for reminding me how important they are, they may drive us mad sometimes but who would we be without them? Where would we be? So as a way of showing you my appreciation of your reminder this is my gift to you.............

Alison (United Kingdom)

Dear Brooke,

My name is Nicholas and I am writing from London, England. I have just watched your television film directed by Christopher Reeves and I found your story courageous and heart felt. I thought your story was a true inspiration to me and I am very sure to many others.

I wish you so much luck for the future Brooke!

Nicholas

Hi Brooke,

I've just watched a film 'The Brooke Ellison story' and I just wanted say that you are amazing!! I have so much admiration for you! Your mother was an amazing help. I don't know how much was true or false but you are still doing so fantastically! 

I wish you the very best in all that you do, not that you need me to tell you.

Gemma (United Kingdom)

Hello Brooke,

I have just finished watching the film based on your story, I am sure there was Hollywood gloss and poetic license used but still felt it gave the essence of your spirit.  You are an inspirational person and I wish you success.

Best wishes

Joanna

Hi there Brooke,

Just watched the movie about you;

You are one amazing lady, I am so proud of all you accomplished, Keep up all that you are doing and even when life gets so hard just trust in our lord... He loves you ... Well anyway just wanted to say that Hi, and how much I admire you...
 
Love,

Cheryl

Dear Brooke,

You are one amazing woman. Most people in your situation would have opted to sit in front of a television or stare out a window each day watching life pass them by! You were so determined and strong willed. The most admirable part; an 11 year old girl had the courage to go back to school and face her classmates and friends being unable to return to the “normal” life of an 11 year old. At that age, there is nothing worse than the fear of not fitting in. I can’t imagine how you felt the first day back at school after your accident. 

Best Wishes,

Gina

Good evening Brooke:
 
I am spending the evening at home, after dislocating my elbow during a nasty fall ten days ago.

My friends have loaned me videos, talking books and music to keep me occupied while I am recovering.

One of these videos happened to be the movie around the story of your life.

Your story is both compelling and courageous.

I admire your strength and tenacity to be able to carry on despite your spinal chord injury.

I just wanted to let you know that you brought a little hope and encouragement to me during a rather low time in my life.

Thank you for this...

Keep up the good work you are doing.
 
Regards,
 
Doreen (Manitoba, Canada)

Dear Miss Ellison,

My name is Colin and I live in Scotland with my lovely wife Lynn and my adorable 9 year old dog.  I would really like to know more about you and your family.

I have seldom felt my heart strings pull as hard as I did when I saw the adaptation of your book on film.

I felt so much admiration for your family and the sacrifices they all made, your father, and siblings all gave up so much, I would like to wish all of you, all the very best.

Take good care

Colin

Hi Brooke,

My family and I listened to you last night.  I spoke about you several times today.  I want to hold on to your talk as long as possible and use you as an example for family, friends and co-workers. I feel like I should also speak about having two lives.  The one I lived before I saw you and the one I hope to live since I saw you.

Thank you,

Caroline

Dear Brooke,
 
It was wonderful to meet you and hear you speak.  Your words were insightful and inspirational and reflected a wisdom about how each of us can make our personal life's journey as rich as it can be.  As you should be able to tell, I enjoyed it very much.  I have been considering looking for part-time work for a while and felt that the not-for profit world could provide me a rewarding experience, if I found the right area. After listening to you speak, I realized that supporting stem cell research in an active way could be a good fit for me. 

Cheryl

Dear Ms. Ellison,

Last night, we had the opportunity to see the wonderful film about your life, The Brooke Ellison Story. I just wanted to send a great big thank you for the way you have lived your life in spite of the great adversity you've had to deal with. You are truly an inspiration for all people!

Thanks again, and we send you our best wishes for whatever you may pursue in the future.

Joe

The trailer is absolutely superb Brooke – you are amazing

Carol