Posting on behalf of my daughter. Please read xxx ST
I want you to know that I am angry with you. I’m not
actually angry. I’m infuriated beyond belief.
You have just come out telling The Australian Women’s Weekly
that you lied about having terminal brain cancer. As a patient who has gone
through 15 brain surgeries, numerous angiograms, hundreds of blood tests and
many MRI scans, how dare you make money by lying about a hardship that many
Australians like myself have to go through every single day?
Do you even know what it’s like for someone to have brain
problems? I do. I'm 21 and I’ve been through 15 brain surgeries to fix my brain condition,
and I am still needing to have more surgery in the coming months. Each one of my surgeries has lasted on average
7 hours. Do you know how painful those 7 hours are for my family and friends?
They’re the ones that are sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, refreshing their Facebook news feed to keep them entertained during the ordeal and nervously biting on every little last bit of their cuticles while messaging people
who are wanting updates on how I am going. It makes my heart sink every time they’ve
waited for me while I’m in surgery.
How dare you make money off these innocent people? I, like
many other people who suffer from a debilitating brain condition bought your
app “The Whole Pantry.” I thought it would be good to try and make my lifestyle
as healthy as possible. You said so yourself. You had terminal brain cancer.
YOU survived, so I thought I could rid myself of illness as well. How idiotic I
feel right now for believing you.
How dare you blame your lies on your rough start to life. You
give your excuse that you had “a difficult up bringing.” Although I did not
have a rough start, I went through many problems in my adolescence- depression,
bullying and severe acne just to name a few. But you know what Belle? I got
help from my counsellor and my doctor. And today I am in a much happier place,
with some good anti-depressants and acne cream to help me.
And now Belle Gibson, it’s time for you to get help
yourself. Help to learn how to apologize to these people that you encouraged so
much hope in, because you have upset so many people. My mum, a breast cancer
survivor and a sufferer of Cowden’s Syndrome, which means she is at higher risk of cancer. My Mother’s plastic surgeon who sees the
devastating effects cancer can have on patients each day. He's furious. Myself - a fellow Cowden’s sufferer like my mum and a survivor
of a severe brain condition.
I am ashamed to have wasted my money on your app. I am someone who believed in your lies. Someone that you instilled a glimmer of hope in.
I am ashamed to have wasted my money on your app. I am someone who believed in your lies. Someone that you instilled a glimmer of hope in.
Belle Gibson, all I can say is this to you.
How dare you?
ASHTON
You’re an awesome human being, Ashton. Kudos to you for you resilience.
ReplyDeleteCon
What a lovely thing to say to my daughter Constantine. Will pass it on.
DeleteThanks for sharing the useful post.
DeleteAshton, you are an inspirational young woman. Your resilience astounds me and I believe that people should be looking up to you, not this pathological liar. Thank you for sharing your story and I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that you get better. Both my grandparents passed away from cancer and it was the worse moment of my life. I cannot fathom how anybody could possibly think they could get attention from faking this horrible disease. Even though I don't know you personally, I believe that you will recover. I honestly believe that. You are very lucky to have such a supportive, inspirational mum too. Never give up, beautiful. I'm 22 and if I met you in real life, I'd think that you were absolutely awesome. Don't forget that! Hopefully one day our paths will meet.
ReplyDeleteYou rock, Ashton!!
Hi Ashton, thanks so much for sharing this story. I am a reporter with Triple J's current affairs show Hack... that's the ABC's youth network. I am hoping to speak to you for a story I am working on about Belle Gibson. Would you please email me your details to discuss further? mcveigh dot sarah at abc dot net dot au. Thanks so much! Sarah
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, I'm Ashton's Mum and I have replied to you.
DeleteDear A
ReplyDeleteApart from venting your anger and fury at what has been a despicable fake story by a selfish woman (and quite rightly so), you have also drawn attention to the fact that people like you (and hopefully by many others) do not accept these criminal activities even if then followed by a confession by Ms Belle (perhaps to attract more attention rather than to show genuine remorse). I am delighted by your measured reaction and hope that it will go a long way to correct some of the ills committed by selfish self-centred individuals. Well done. I trust that the support shown by many people at your contribution will also go a long way to help you come to terms with your own condition. Much love. P
thanks for the Awesome information
DeleteThank you, Ashton, for bravely sharing your side of the story and for shedding the light on the only perspective that, in my humble opinion, truly matters in this whole situation.
ReplyDeleteI am flabbergasted at the media for continuing to speculate about the reasons this impostor has concocted her lavish ruse and trying to explain away her horrendous behaviour with whatever mental disorder/s she may or not have.
I don’t care what lead her to do this, I don’t care what she went through in her childhood, I don’t care about her excuses and I am truly appalled that she has the audacity to ask people to go easy on her because she’s only “human.”
I am far more concerned about the thousands upon thousands of vulnerable people fighting a terrifying deadly disease that fell for her lies hook, line and sinker. What are their stories? What effect has she had on their health? Their wellbeing? Their lives? What did she cost them? Where are their stories? And does she even care?
Thank you Naomi for this reply to my daughters article. I agree with you 100%
DeleteYou GO Girls! Ashton, thank you for sharing part of your painful story of survival and hope. Good for you to blast Belle Gibson for her callous selfishness! Thanks as always, Suzi T, for a timely and well-written blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks Di. It was better for her to get it out of her system I thought.
DeleteWay to go Miss Ashton! I'm appalled to read that she did this. I have never met you or your Mum but your Mum is someone special to me and everyday you are both in my prayers especially when you are going through your surgeries! You are a beautiful, strong and resilient young lady and your strength has encouraged me to deal with my own disease with a more positive attitude!
ReplyDeleteMuch love,
Lysa xx
Much love Lysa and hope you're still enjoying your holiday.
DeleteMum talking now - she is a tough, resilient cookie and we all love and admire her to bits. Thank you for your comment.
ReplyDeleteHello Ashton,
ReplyDeleteAs we were on the same news segment, I thought I'd drop you a note to say hi :)
Congratulations on your writing and for speaking out. Keep saying what needs to be said!
Love
Yvonne
from One Piece of Advice
I'm ashamed to say that for a while I was following her on Instagram, too. From another brain surgery CHAMP, I'm mortified at this "Belle" person. I'm sickened actually. Thankfully I never bought the full priced app but I thought about it. What a horrible person that "Belle" is. I can't even say her name w/out putting it in quotes. PS, I am going to find you online soon when I am so we can chat about the other thing. <3
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