If there’s one thing the pandemic taught us, it is to never take our health for granted. This is something that has been at the forefront of Ashley Main’s mind for her entire life. Ashley joined the Langdon Hall team in 2021, but had quite the journey to get here.
“I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when I was two weeks old,” explains Ashley. “My parents later found out they are both carriers of a cystic fibrosis gene that would have given any child they had a 25% chance of having cystic fibrosis.”
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that changes a protein in the body. It impairs the normal clearance of mucus from the lungs and over time, will cause a build-up of mucus that can damage namely the lungs, but other organs as well.
Growing up is never easy, but growing up with a condition like cystic fibrosis can make it particularly interesting. “Somehow, I always managed to get my most sick in the summer,” says Ashley. “I was lucky that I did not miss a ton of school, but I was still known as the sick girl and had to deal with bullying growing up because of my condition.”
Despite doctors believing Ashley would only live to be 12 years old, she continued to thrive through her young adult life, despite any limitations her condition caused. Ashley did everything possible to ensure she was living a full, healthy life. “I played the flute growing up, which sounds like the opposite of what you want to do when you have bad lungs,” laughs Ashley. “I loved playing the flute, and it gave my lungs the kind of exercise they needed. I believe that is one of the main reasons I was able to grow up without needing a lung transplant.”
Fast forward to 2016, when Ashley was 24-years-old and got her worst lung infection to-date.
“It was June 2016, and I got put on oxygen full-time,” explains Ashley. “I lasted way longer without needing a transplant than anyone anticipated, but I knew at this point I would need to be put on the transplant list.”
In order to be put on the transplant list, Ashley had to undergo a week-long assessment at Toronto General Hospital, including CT scans, blood tests, psychological evaluations and more. It was not until September of 2016 that Ashley was officially placed on the transplant list. You are assigned a certain status when placed on the transplant list, and without getting too technical, Ashley was considered “stable, but could change at any moment,” says Ashley.
At the time, the average wait for new lungs was 6-8 months and approximately 10% of people with cystic fibrosis succumb to the condition while waiting for a transplant. “I am only 5’2” and have a rare blood type, so the odds of getting lungs that would be a good fit were stacked against me,” says Ashley. To her surprise, 12 days after being placed on the transplant list, Ashley got the call.
“It is the call that part of you thinks you are never going to get,” explains Ashley. “I just remember trying to get hold of my family and telling everyone. We were all in complete disbelief but beyond happy.”
September 15th, 2016 is the date Ashley got her double-lung transplant. It was not an easy road, as shortly after the transplant, Ashley experienced complications and was given a 20% chance to live. Ultimately, she spent 42 days in the hospital recovering. The recovery process was grueling, but Ashley preserved and learned to breathe again.
“Once I was out of recovery, I almost felt like I could start my life,” says Ashley. “I had never really been able to have a job because of my condition, but for the first time having a career was not out of reach.”
After working for a spa in Preston for 4 years, Ashley found her way to Langdon Hall in 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I am immunocompromised and of course COVID-19 was an infection in the lungs, so I was terrified of getting it,” says Ashley. “There was a job posting at Langdon Hall for a front gate attendant, which was mainly a solo job and was outside, so it was the perfect fit for me at the time.”
Ashley spent her first few months at Langdon checking vaccine passports as people entered the property. In June 2022, when this position was no longer necessary, she moved inside and joined the Reservations Team. Ashley has been a core member of the Reservations Team since then, recently becoming Langdon Hall’s Reservation Coordinator in November 2024.
“l love working here,” says Ashley. “The people are amazing and the values Langdon Hall stands for have always been in line with my own. It is such a special place to work.”
Now, at 32-years-old, Ashley is continuing to live her life to the fullest, despite any challenges that come her way. “My body is like an older woman,” laughs Ashley. “On top of taking my anti-rejection medications, I take medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol, among other things. It is all worth it though, because I never look at a set of stairs and feel that sense of dread anymore.”
Over the past year, Ashley has revisited this pivotal time in her life and has written a memoir titled, Bitch I Lived. “When I was in the hospital recovering from my transplant, there was this meme going around,” says Ashley. “It is some dad getting out of surgery who took a selfie and captioned it ‘I lived, Bitch.’ My husband showed it to me when I was recovering and I remember thinking it was the funniest thing I had ever seen, so it became a mantra of sorts for me and I knew it needed to be the title of my book.”
Throughout her memoir, Ashley reflects on what it truly means to be alive and how the people we love are the ones who breathe life into us.
“It was so emotional to re-live some of the darkest parts of my life, but I am not sure if I had ever taken the time to process everything, so the process was really cathartic for me,” says Ashley.
The way Ashley lights up when she talks about her loved ones, and the warmth she gives off is truly infectious. Someone who has been through so much, but who still has so much to give is a beautiful reminder to be kind and to stop and appreciate all the small things we take for granted, like breathing.
It is an obvious statement, but Ashley is an incredible woman. With an inspiring story and so much to tell, you will not want to miss the chance to read her memoir. Bitch I Lived is officially available for purchase and is linked down below. We cannot wait to see what more Ashley Main has in store for us. Cheers to new chances, the power of hope and most importantly, to Ashley.