Ashleigh's Journey of Hope

Ashleigh Ryann Gwin

Born: November 15, 2002

Weight: 7 lbs 10 oz Length: 19 1/2 inches

Ashleigh is a beautiful baby girl, who in June 2003 was diagnosed with Krabbe Leukodystrophy. Ashleigh had 8 days of Chemotherapy and on August 27, 2003 she received an Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Transplant. On November, 29, 2007 at 10:00pm, Ashleigh received her wings and was healed in Heaven with Jesus. In the pages to follow you can read about Ashleigh, see some pictures of her and offer support by signing her guestbook.

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Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy, more commonly known as Krabbe disease is an inherited neurodegenerative lysosomal enzyme disorder affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems. Children who inherit the disorder lack an important enzyme (GALC) that is needed for the production of normal myelin (white matter) in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Myelin is the protective covering of the nerve cells and acts like insulation surrounding an electric wire. When the enzyme, GALC is deficient it produces toxic substances in the brain, causing myelin loss, changes in cells and neurological damange. Progression of the disorder is rapid and death occurs in early childhood.
Krabbe Disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. If both parents carry a disease causing mutation in the GALC gene there is a 25 persent chance of having a Krabbe affected child, a 50 percent chance of having a child that is a carrier and a 25 percent chance of having a child who does not carry the disorder. This genetic disease is found in ALL ethnic groups. Krabbe occurs in about 1 in every 100,000 live births in the United States. Diagnoses is made by testing the white cells in the blood for GALC activity.

E-mail Author: moocow517@comcast.net

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