The Garden Ashleigh Kaplan Built: Friendship, Fearlessness, and the Fight Against Breast Cancer

Image courtesy of Ashleigh Kaplan.

When you go away to school, friends become pillars of your life—especially when you’re a freshman. I was a fearless freshman: I didn’t know the rules, and I wasn’t afraid of consequences that felt far away. But my first semester was hard. My grandfather was dying, I missed my family, and I couldn’t find my niche. I seriously considered moving home and transferring.

Then I got an email: I’d been accepted to the student government street team. It was the first time I’d ever been chosen for something. The name at the bottom? Ashleigh Kaplan.

Image courtesy of me.

Ashleigh is a multitasker like no other. She’s like a bee—buzzing from one passion project to the next—but unlike most, she follows through. She’s cultivated a thriving garden of people, passions, and purpose. She should be in the prime of her life. Instead, at thirty, she was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer. Now, she’s tending that garden while fighting to root out one of life’s most aggressive weeds.

Image courtesy of Ashleigh Kaplan.

When I saw her post about her diagnosis, I immediately checked in. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I knew I needed to help share her story.

Image courtesy of Ashleigh Kaplan.

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1.   What was your life like before your diagnosis?

   Honestly, my family and I were in such an exciting and transitional phase of life. On May 30, I made a huge career shift: I left the corporate finance job I’d held since I was 21 to follow my dream of being a stay-at-home mom and raising my daughter. This wasn’t a decision I made lightly—I’d been diligently saving and learning about financial planning for years to make it possible.

   

   Image courtesy of Ashleigh Kaplan.

   
   

   At the same time, I was growing my passion project into a real business. At 26, I launched Ashleigh Kaplan Weddings where I channel my love for weddings into helping couples plan the most magical day of their lives. I coordinate with vendors, manage day-of logistics, and make sure everything runs smoothly. What started as a side hustle was becoming something much more—and this year, my goal was to scale it into a full-time venture.

   
   

   Working in weddings requires you to be physically active—constantly moving, lifting, and coordinating. After having my daughter, I took time off to recover and care for her. During that time, I entered a rebuilding phase with my business. I had the experience, but I hadn’t yet treated it as a full-time job. I wasn’t working weddings yet, but I was laying the foundation: networking, marketing myself, and slowly ramping up.

   
   

   

   Image courtesy of Ashleigh Kaplan.

   Things were finally starting to take off. I had been invited to a bridal showcase, secured a partnership with a hotel in Sunny Isles, and was starting to receive referrals. It felt like real momentum—and for the first time, I saw a clear path to growing my dream business.

   
   

   But just ten days after leaving my corporate job, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer.

   
   

2.  How has your diagnosis changed the way you view your work, passions, and priorities?

   When I was first diagnosed, my world froze—and my priorities shifted overnight. You’re suddenly in this purgatory where nothing makes sense. You know you have cancer, but you don’t know how bad it is. You don’t know if you’ll see your child start kindergarten. You don’t know how far it’s spread. You feel helpless. It’s depressing. It’s terrifying. And it changes your entire worldview.

   

   Image courtesy of Ashleigh Kaplan.

   The best way I can describe it is this: it’s like when you graduate or move away, and people are still talking about next semester’s events—but those things don’t apply to you anymore. That’s what it felt like in life. The world keeps spinning, but you’re no longer sure if you’ll still be in it. It’s earth-shattering.

   
   

   I’m incredibly lucky to have an amazing husband who fought to get me on every schedule, every list, as fast as humanly possible. The doctors were floored—they’d never seen anyone move so quickly. From the day of my diagnosis to my first chemo treatment was just ten days.

   

   

   

   Images courtesy of Ashleigh Kaplan.

   
   

   When they told me I was going to lose my hair and have a mastectomy, I didn’t care what I was going to look like. I cared about being here.

   
   

3. What has surprised you the most—either about yourself or your community—since you began this journey?

   The biggest surprise has been the sense of community. I’ve always known how incredible the Jewish community is at rallying together, but I never fully understood the depth and breadth of my village—from every part of my life. I’ve been absolutely floored by the support, donations, offers to help, and outpouring of love. A lot of this has come from people we hadn’t spoken to in 5–10 years. It reminded me that I’ve made an impact on people’s lives, whether I knew it or not.

   

   Image courtesy of Ashleigh Kaplan.

   I never really put into perspective the role a person plays in someone else’s life. You never know how being kind to someone can change their world. This support left me and my family speechless. My best friend created a GoFundMe hoping to raise enough money to buy a wig. To see it raise even more than I could imagine, I find myself at a loss for words to express how much it means to me and my family.

4. What do you hope people take away from your story?

   I know my story resonates with a lot of moms and young women in general. I hope it serves as a call to listen to your body and take charge of your health. I understand that healthcare in the United States isn’t a simple road, but it’s vital for everyone to be their own biggest advocate before it’s too late.

   

   Image courtesy of Ashleigh Kaplan.

   You should find doctors you feel comfortable with. If I didn’t have the relationships I have with my midwife, this could have gone on much longer. Before this, I was very private about my body. I would put off certain tests before having my baby because I didn’t feel comfortable around doctors. My midwife helped me feel comfortable discussing and showing her what was happening with my body. That trust was key to catching this early.

   
   

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When the world drops out from under you, it feels like you’re being pulled into the earth—surrounded by darkness and the unknown. Yet, through these trials and tribulations, you begin to discover your inner strength. Ashleigh continues to nurture her family, friends, and dreams with grace under pressure.

As Ashleigh moves forward, she does so with hope, resilience, and the unwavering belief that even in the darkest moments, there is light—and a garden worth tending.

Image courtesy of Ashleigh Kaplan.