ISSAQUAH, Wash. - You'd never know little Ashley Lefkow was so sick until you see the pictures taken just a few months ago, before the steroids and chemotherapy started.
They were far happier times, with Ashley celebrating her 4th birthday and the family business successful beyond anyone's wildest dreams.
The family business is "Bacon Salt," the kitschy kitchen phenomenon that made national news and landing Dave Lefkow on Leno, even Oprah.
In just two years, the Bacon Salt line has expanded from the family's garage into all 50 states and 52 countries.
But then one day this summer it all came crashing down with a phone call from the family doctor.
"I called my wife, I called Christen and I couldn't even get the words out. All she heard was me sobbing on the phone and she just said I'm coming home right now," said Lefkow.
Their baby girl Ashley was diagnosed with leukemia.
"We're talking about a girl who never even had an ear infection. So, you think you have a healthy child but you never know," said Christen.
But the family refused to succumb to despair, making each of the long, draining doctor visits and chemo appointments as fun as possible.
On this day Ashley is being put under for a nerve-racking chemical injection into her spine. Everyone is feeling the stress.
"I wish she could get better in one day," said big brother Dean, who plays the clown, turning cartwheels to help ease the tension, and even doing his best Jeff Renner impersonation.
But not everyone has a silly little boy to provide comic relief. That's why the Lefkows want to help bring a bit of comfort themselves to families whose kids are fighting cancer.
They've established a new foundation to help brighten the days at Seattle Children's Hospital and bring little luxuries like portable video games and mp3 players to kids struggling to just make it through the day, whether it's another round of chemo or simply standing by their sister's side.
"We just want to keep them focused on being kids," said Lefkow.
The Lefkows are lucky. They caught Ashley's cancer early enough that she's likely to make a full recovery, but they know many more families will have it much tougher.
It's a lesson learned and passed on by a grateful mother who takes nothing for granted.
"Enjoy the now because you never know, you don't know when the world will switch on you," said Dave.
The good people at Bacon Salt are holding a fundraiser for Ashley's foundation this Thursday.
They've dubbed it the "Bacathalon." It will feature, among other things, an attempt to set the world record for eating bacon.
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