Rapid City| Ashley Tyler Greenwalt, 38, passed away early Monday morning, February 24 ^th , 2020, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. She was born July 3, 1981, in Rapid City, SD to Craig and Susie (Grane) Greenwalt. Ashley was the oldest of four children – Austin Greenwalt, Autumn Greenwalt and Avery Greenwalt. Ashley's passing was preceded by her father's in December 2012.

Throughout her life, family represented the sacred center of Ashley's world. She valued her relationships with her loved ones above all things, and from an early age, her greatest yearning was to one day become a mother. Although she would not go on to have children of her own, she channeled these instincts into her relationships with each of her siblings; her niece, Brianna; and her nephew, Jonathan; which were suffused with an unmistakably maternal sense of pride, love, and deep devotion.

Ashley's mother, Susie, her uncle, Bob Dorsey, and her cousin, Debra Hollan were with her at the time of her passing. As her soul continues on its journey, we want those who have known and loved Ash to be able to share in the memory of her life as told through her own words 22 years ago.

My Soul in the Universe

As I explore my philosophy on life, I find that my ideas are drawn from events that have happened to me at a very young age, and simply from the life God gave me to lead. To find out what my inner being is all about, all I must do is trust and follow my heart and it will give me the answers and strength I need to overcome any obstacles I am faced with. The best way to answer the question of who I am is to remember a very long and painful struggle I dealt with as a child. This struggle would not only help mold me into who I am today, but turn a young child into a young lady.

Perhaps new souls enter this world not randomly, but by choice. I know I entered this world as a very wanted baby. My parents had hoped and prayed for a baby for nine years, and finally on a hot July day, in 1981, I was born. The love my parents shared with me would be the love that I would need to help me in my childhood battle with cancer. At a young age, I was asking questions about the stars and the heavens. Some questions my parents couldn't always answer. At this time also, I realized the world didn't just consist of my home and family but rather that it consisted of many different people and places. Being part of this vast universe felt somehow very familiar to me.

As a parent, one would never think a child would feel or say something bad would happen to them, but that was what I said to my mother one day. Being only four years old, I was reassured that everything was fine and that nothing bad would happen to me. At age 5, I became ill and was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. I couldn't understand why Jesus allowed this to happen to me. Being only 5 years old, and facing a life threatening illness was very difficult. I became too weak to walk and watched as my waist length blond hair began to fall out. The strength that kept me going was my new baby sister, Autumn and little brother, Austin. My family was there for me and to support me with their love. Most people couldn't really understand what I was going through.  My Grandpa, Art, who had gone through cancer as a young man, knew and understood what I was going through. We formed a bond that was very special to both of us.

Two years passed and I felt like I was done, that I could finally be a normal kid again. I was in third grade and had a new baby brother, Avery. Halfway through, bad news struck again, I had relapsed. This meant that I had to begin chemotherapy all over again. This protocol called for stronger and more frequent treatments. I would need even more strength and courage than before. I knew what I had to do and I had a very strong will to live.

One year later, another bombshell hit. I had relapsed in the spine. Now, my only option was a bone marrow transplant. My whole family was typed for a potential donor match. Generally, there is a good chance that one in four siblings could match. Unfortunately, no one in my family was a close enough match. Luckily, not long after, a potential match was found through the Marrow Donor Registry. My transplant took place in 1991 and by February 1992, I knew I was cured for life. One year post transplant, I met Audrey Temmer, the woman who gave me a second chance at life.

This ordeal was very painful and difficult for me and continues to be today. I have learned to trust my own judgment on decisions concerning myself and my well being. This, I have found, must come from within. I am me, a miracle, someone who has beaten all of the odds that doctors and medicines have put in front of me. I feel that I am a very sweet, loving, caring and strong willed young lady.

I'm here to help and enlighten others. I accomplished part of this by going on Inside Edition and the John and Leeza show. By doing this, it gave me the wish that I wanted by going on television and brought attention to the need for donors. The Donor Registry number received so many calls after Inside Edition aired, that they aired it again, later in the summer. In seventh grade, my science teacher, Mrs. Gill, asked me to talk to my core classes about my experience. I showed the tapes to each of my four classes and by doing this, we raised money for two of my core teachers, Mrs. Ruthford and Mr. Hast to be tested. They are now on the Donor Registry. Even though two people doesn't seem like it would help, one of them might be a match that will save someone else's life someday. I feel in my heart that I'm here to fulfill my mom's dream of having children. My dream also is to have children. This dream is important to me because I have so much love to give and through my own children, perhaps I can regain a part of my childhood that was lost. My Grandpa was a medical miracle, beating the odds. In all likelihood, they as a young couple, would not be able to have children. They beat those odds and had my mom and uncle. I know that miracles happen that can't be explained and I, like my Grandpa, will one day have children. An important lesson that I want to teach my children is to not be afraid of people who have illnesses. There were too many times that I was hurt because kids were not aware of and never taught that cancer was not something you could catch, like a cold, but rather that it is something unfortunate that can happen to anyone, at anytime. I know whatever I choose in life, it will be by the love and strength that Jesus has blessed me with and with the support of my family.

When I finish this journey, I hope that my dreams and prayers will be answered and that my heritage and beliefs will be carried on through my children. I believe that death is not the end, but only a new beginning. I hope that all my prayers will be answered and that my goals will be fulfilled. I look forward to seeing my Grandpa and my other loved ones. I know that when my body dies, all the pain that I have had or will experience, will be lifted away and only happiness will reign. I think the biggest reward is to eventually live enough lives that we learn the right lessons. When that happens, I believe God allows us to become angels and watch over others. I'm certain that angels have watched over me.

I didn't just happen to be born into this family, it was all planned out in advance. Clearly, I chose what I needed in this lifetime to help me through it. My cancer wasn't an accident, subconsciously I believe I knew it from the beginning. This would be my struggle. I would conquer it, enlighten others and grow in my love toward God.