Ashli Cook Ashli Augsburger

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place.  Ashli was diagnosed with auto-immune hepatitis Christmas Day 2016. (She had been dealing with swollen legs and a rash for nearly 2 months, and a dermatologist had been treating the rash. The swelling continued to progress to her abdomen the week before Christmas, and blood work that was done indicated something was wrong with her liver.  Scott and I arrived in Nashville 2 days before Christmas and took her to the ER at Vanderbilt Hospital, found she was experiencing liver failure...which leads to the rest of the story.)  Ashli spent 7 days in the hospital enduring MANY tests, the most uncomfortable being a transjugular liver biopsy, which confirmed she needs a liver transplant. Once they felt all of her medications had her stable enough to be discharged, Vanderbilt contacted Univ of Iowa so that we could establish care up there and bring her home for a transplant.  Unfortunately, due to the New Years holiday falling just as these changes were happening/offices being closed, we didn't know until the day after we brought her back to Iowa that our insurance will not cover a liver transplant here as it is not on their "center of excellence" list where they can cover it... but thankfully Vanderbilt is on that list!!!  Vanderbilt was simply amazing in all aspects while we were there, and we have no doubt that they will see us through the next big bump in the road as we proceed with Ashli's transplant there.  Her appointment for a couple of final evaluations before being placed on the transplant list is Jan. 24.   We appreciate your support, positive thoughts, words of encouragement, and prayers. Thank you for visiting. ❤️