Ashley Stayner is the youngest female serial killer in US history, and she did it all while still being a teenager. This true crime story looks at how and why Ashley became such a horrible murderer, and it’s the inside look into her life that no one thought was possible.
Beginnings in Modeling
Growing up in a small town in Northern California, Ashley Stayner pursued her dream of modeling and eventually made her way to Los Angeles. She was signed to Ford Models and had a successful career for ten years.
In 2006, Ashley’s life changed when she was arrested for conspiracy to commit murder. She spent three years in prison and now works as a model again as she tries to move forward with her life.
Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment
In September 2016, Ashley was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. In October 2016, she underwent surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes. She also received chemotherapy treatments in December 2016 and January 2017. Thankfully, after a month-long break from treatment, she is now cancer-free!
Learn From My Struggles – Reach Out To A Loved One
I struggled with depression for a number of years, but it wasn’t until I had my daughter that I began to feel better. It was as if being a mom gave me this sense of purpose and belonging in life. On bad days, when I felt like there was no way out, she would always be there to cheer me up or cuddle with me. The love from my child was what helped pull me out of the deep sadness that I experienced.
I wish somebody had told me about this before my son passed away, because if they had maybe he would still be here today. Don’t wait for things to get so bad before you reach out for help or talk to somebody about your feelings.
Meet Ashley’s New Normal
As a new mom, I am often asked how I’m managing. The honest answer is it’s been really hard. When you are sleep deprived and your body just physically feels like it can’t take another day, it gets tough to maintain your business and personal life.
I was also diagnosed with postpartum depression which is a mental illness that affects women after they give birth. This made things even more difficult because I wasn’t sure if I could even continue working or if my mental health would be better served by taking time off work to focus on getting better.
It Never Gets Easier, But Grief Does Get Better
Even though it never gets easier, Ashley Stayner knows that grief does get better. In her new book, Ashley talks about what she’s learned in the last few years since her father passed away and how she’s found ways to heal.
It never gets easier but grief does get better, says Ashley. I know this because I am living proof.
She tells readers that they need not have all their answers figured out before they start to heal–all they need is a willingness to ask questions and an openness to whatever those answers may be.
Ashley also writes about how important it is for people who are grieving not only to take care of themselves but also to maintain some sense of normalcy in their lives.
Take Time For Yourself
No one can be successful in life if they don’t take some time to focus on themselves. Ashley Stayner is no exception. In fact, she took quite a bit of time for herself this week! Read on to find out what she did, and why it was so important. She ended her week by taking time for herself, even after a jam-packed day!
Happiness Is Contagious
Happy people are more likely to make others around them happy, too. So if you’re feeling down and need a quick pick-me-up, just spend time with your favorite person in the world. But that’s not all – happy people also usually have higher incomes and better health. While they may not be able to buy happiness, they certainly know how to help others find it.
Know Your Value
Ashley Stayner is a woman who, in spite of her challenges, has found success. She’s learned to be thankful for the little things and to love herself unconditionally. We can all learn from this and know our value, whether we are a stay-at-home mom or a CEO. We should never underestimate ourselves and strive to accomplish more each day. Ashley’s story is proof that we can do anything if we set our minds to it!
Be Patient, There Is Always Hope
Ashley has been through a lot in her life, but she stays strong and pushes through. She is a survivor, and that is why she has so much hope. At age 5, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and told that it was terminal. Doctors said her best chance for survival was to have her entire right lung removed. But Ashley refused to give up. I just didn’t want to die, she said. It took almost six months for doctors to convince her that surgery was necessary. The operation went well, but there were complications and additional operations before she could return home.
The second time Ashley had to undergo surgery was when she was 10 years old. She had a rare form of cancerous tumors which attacked her kidneys and liver while going through treatment for leukemia at age 7. The tumors returned four years later when she turned 12, forcing doctors to remove one kidney and part of the other one before they could operate on the liver tumor again.
Ashley says this wasn’t as difficult as chemotherapy because everything would be done after school or during weekends when she’s not feeling good anyway. Her parents helped out by making sure Ashley always had food available even if they couldn’t make anything themselves since they work full-time jobs outside the house.
