Ashly’s Health Journey

Telling one’s story requires courage and honesty and for those who know me, I’ve only used social media to share pics of my family and the occasional funny, relatable parenting meme. After three years of struggling with my health, I’m finally ready to share my journey.

June of 2020 I was 6 months pregnant with Bodhi and rushed to the hospital for extreme lower flank pain. After hours of tests and ultrasounds, I was diagnosed with my first kidney stone.

“A Kidney stone? But I’ve never had any renal issues let alone any health issues ever before.”, I said. They explained that kidney stones could be a possible side effect of pregnancy and left it at that. The baby was fine and I went on to deliver a perfect and health baby boy in September. Fast forward to the present - my renal issues are far from over. I’ve had 3 kidney surgeries, passed over 50 stones and was officially diagnosed most recently with Stage 2 Chronic Kidney Disease. My right kidney is at about 60% function and twice the size of my left.

In March of 2021, I went in for a routine checkup with my primary since I had some concerns that I had PPD after having Bodhi. My hands were constantly shaking, my heart would race 24/7, I lost an unhealthy amount of unexplained weight and clumps of my hair were falling out. I’ll never forget it - the same day I was told I was pregnant again with baby Johnny, I was also diagnosed with Graves Disease. I was immediately put on a treatment plan and monitored closely since the risks of the baby being born with endocrine issues was there. While he was born almost a month early in November 2021, I feel like the luckiest mama in the world to have two perfectly health boys.

By the Spring of 2022 my thyroid and kidney issues had landed me in the hospital - honestly I stopped counting after 25 times. The quick decision was made to undergo a total thyroidectomy in May 2022 after a Thyroid Storm which can be fatal if left untreated. The surgery was very successful and my thyroid levels have since been under control with thyroid replacement medication and routine checkups. This past December I fell very ill again and immediately called my team of doctors thinking it might be endocrine related again.

After more bloodwork and more scans, I was diagnosed with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism, which unfortunately can go hand-in-hand with Chronic Kidney Disease. Due to all the endocrine and renal issues these last few years, I am being sent out of state to Keesler AFB for genetic testing in hopes to find better answers as to why all of this is happening and rule out genetic disorder concerns my doctors currently have.

While I’m relieved in a sense we finally know what’s going on and can start mapping out a treatment plan , I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t a daily struggle - physically, mentally and financially. CKD, Graves and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism do not have cures - they can be managed/maintained through proper treatment and monitoring.

Through all of the medical struggles I had a great remote job in real estate for the past 3 years, whom became like family to me. This past November, due to unforeseen market changes in the ‘fixer upper’ realm of real estate which I was in - I was furloughed.

With falling sick again shortly after that - my days have been full of medical appts, bloodwork and the babies have always stayed home with me full-time. And while I’m extremely lucky to be insured via the military which covers a lot of my medical expenses, things are beginning to add up more than we can keep up on just Ben’s income.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my story and can’t thank you all enough for the love and support while my family and I navigate through our new “normal”. I’m hopeful to get on the road to recovery sooner than later.

And if you or someone you know is suffering from chronic illness or an autoimmune disorder - please reach out to me if you need someone to talk to. We all have the power to make a difference whether it be big or small, so if you’re thinking of someone, just reach out to them - don’t hesitate or put it off til later. You never know what’s going on with someone - so just send the text, make the call, mail the card, whatever it may be. We only get one life. Make the most of it. ❤️