Bone Cancer, Grief, and Faith: Ashley Selby-Karney’s Story of Losing Her Son and Turning Pain into Purpose
By Ana Cruz - Founder and Chief Editor
This week on The Ana Cruz Show, we sit down with Ashley Selby-Karney — author, speaker, and certified grief coach — to share the powerful story of her son, who was diagnosed at just 10 years old with bone cancer. Bone cancer, including aggressive forms like osteosarcoma, is a rare disease that develops in the cells of the bone and most commonly affects children and teenagers during growth spurts. Treatment often involves chemotherapy, major surgeries, limb-salvage procedures, or amputation, creating not only a physical battle but an emotional and spiritual one for the entire family. In this deeply moving episode, Ashley takes us back to the moment she first sensed something wasn’t right, the day she heard the diagnosis, and what “survival mode” truly looked like in those first 24 hours.
Ashley speaks candidly about how cancer changed the rhythm of her home — emotionally, practically, and spiritually. Through hospital rooms, ports, prosthetics, and relentless prayer, her family learned to live between hope and heartbreak. Her memoir, Ports, Prosthetics and a Whole Lotta Prayer, captures that journey with raw honesty and faith. In 2024, on the same date she launched her second book — January 22 — Ashley lost her son, transforming a day of unimaginable grief into one of legacy and purpose. What once felt unbearable is now becoming a message of hope for other parents walking hospital hallways and for anyone learning to breathe again after loss.
If this conversation touches your heart, we invite you to listen to the full episode and share it with someone who may need it.
You can purchase Ashley’s book at www.ashleyselbykarney.com and follow her journey on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about her work and find support during seasons of grief.
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