All About Ashley - Dance, Liver, Life.

Ashley has been busy this year with dance.  She is simply amazing and has grown so much as a dancer this year. I am very proud of her.  Each year as Ashley continues to dance, it has become increasingly hard to pay for her love of dance.  However, some how by the grace of God we are able to continue to support her talent and love.

I mean really how can you possibly say no to this.

and this...

and of course this....

and this too....

Amazing isn't she?

Remarkably or miraculously dance seems to be what is keeping Ashley so healthy.  Her doctors are in firm belief that her dance is providing her with healing powers that they just don't have.  Ashley's liver disease is stable after 13 years of fighting this beast called biliary atresia.  Note: I said stable not cured. Her liver function appears to be normal...for now.  The only issue we are dealing with is Ashley's platelet count is continuing to drop.  At present time, her platelet count is at 68,000 (normal is 140, 000 to 240,00).  A low platelet means Ashley bruises easy, she is at risk for internal bleeding and her spleen is at risk for injury. The good news is that Ashley's liver is still happy, and I almost forgot those masses/cysts/nodules they found in her liver when she was three years old are gone or they just could not be seen on the ultrasound. Maybe dance does have something to do with it.

This month we tested Ashley for Celiacs Disease and her blood work did not indicate that she has the disease nor did it show that she didn't have the disease.  Ashley's symptoms pretty much point to Celiacs but without a biopsy of her small intestine we will not be certain.  Regardless, we are introducing Ashley to some gluten-free foods. Ashley has noticed the difference when eating these foods and she certainly complains less of stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, etc.  We are struggling with the idea of putting Ashley through another upper endoscopy to achieve the biopsy results.  Ashley goes through so much medically, sometimes she wants a break from being a pin cushion/science experiment.  As her parents, we want it all to stop too but we also want to do what is best for her to give her a long and happy life. I think that's why we love to watch her dance...we forget how precarious her health can be.  

Ashley being stretched by her "big sister" Cami.

Caroline, Ashley, and Madison

Ashley and her friend Mackenzie

Ashley 2nd Overall Soloist with her friend Ari who got 3rd Overall.
Ashley is pictured with her choreographer, the beautiful and talented, Alexis Underwood.

Next week, we will be watching Ashley compete in a national dance competition in Orlando.  We look forward to it because we do like to forget about her disease every once in a while.