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In the Beginning
Ashley met one of her adoptive mothers, Camille Echols, in July 2007 when she became Camille's primary patient at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. She was almost skeletal; a tiny little, frail thing, with a personality to match. She had come to Children's Healthcare on death's door, and after she got out of ICU, she was transferred to Camille's floor. Ashley was anti-social, to say the least. She would scream if anyone came into her room. She did not want to be looked at, talked to or touched.
Ashley's underlying history is this: she was born early, and 36 hours into her little life, doctors realized she had no kidney function. She was immediately put on dialysis. She was tested, stuck and operated on countless times before it was decided that she had "congenital dysplastic kidneys." What this means is that her kidneys are shriveled up—and non-functioning—and they developed this way in utero. Her only hope for survival is a kidney transplant. (You cannot survive indefinitely on dialysis.)
Although Ashley wanted no part in getting to know and trust one of her future mothers, Camille remained her primary nurse and spent only a few minutes at a time in her room. Ashley did not want to be held; she displayed no desire for human interaction. She just lay in her crib--content. If someone came in, she cried. Camille plugged away at getting this tiny baby to trust her. Camille talked to her softly while she cried and sang to her even while she fussed. Ashley eventually "let" Camille hold her without crying. Once she realized that Camille was there out of love for her, they quickly became attached. Camille came in on her days off to see Ashley, and rocked her to sleep every day. Ashley's biological mother was young, and didn't have the resources or support she needed to properly care for her. Everyone was concerned about Ashley's well-being once she was discharged home.
Those fears proved to be justified, as Ashley continued to battle bloodstream infections and blood clots (for which she was supposed to be receiving shots). She failed to gain weight, although her formula's caloric density was extremely high (indicating that she was not being fed). Numerous concerns were voiced regarding medical and overall neglect. Ashley was expected to be taken into DFCS custody.
Camille and her life partner, Julie Dobbs, took the training to become certified foster parents and completed that process in November 2007. Ashley finally was taken into custody by DFCS on January 31, 2008. Her biological mother approached Camille and asked if she and Julie would take Ashley into their home. Of course, they said yes and went to court to ask to be granted custody. In the 4 months leading up to this point, Julie joined Camille on her days off to visit Ashley, and the baby had come to identify both of them as primary caregivers. They already had developed a deep bond.
Ashley had been in the hospital for 20 days at the time the judge granted DFCS the authority to place Ashley in Julie and Camille's care. She spent 8 more days there and then came home with her new parents for the first time. Over the next month, Ashley thrived in areas she had never thrived in before. When she first arrived home, she would not lie on her stomach or bear weight on her arms or legs. She spoke about five words and signed two. She made herself vomit several times a day by putting her hand in her mouth to gag herself (a behavioral issue Camille and Julie believe she developed as a coping mechanism). After a month with her mothers, Ashley's vocabulary expanded to 15 words, along with seven signed words. She began to pull up to her knees; she stopped vomiting completely; and most importantly: she began to realize the hospital was not her home. Although the staff had become her "family," she demonstrated an age-appropriate anxiety over being in the hospital.
Ashley's kidney transplant evaluation was performed on March 11, 2008. Until there was ZERO possibility of Ashley ever returning to her biological mother, she would not be recommended for a transplant. Camille and Julie also were told this precious child may die in the next 12 months if she were not to be transplanted. A week later, Ashley's biological mother told Camille she wanted to voluntarily terminate her own parental rights to give her child a chance at life, and a better life than she could provide.
Ashley's adoption was finalized on May 6.
Living Donor
Camille's mother, Lisa Fort, is a blood type match for Ashley! Lisa is in the process of being worked up to donate to Ashley. In the event that Lisa cannot donate, Ashley's parents hope to find another living donor--out of all the children waiting, only THREE have received deceased donor transplants this year.
Ashley will need another kidney transplant in her future. A donated kidney may last as long as 20 years, but it is certain that she will be facing another (possibly several) transplant(s) in her future.
Volunteering
If you know of anyone who may be interested in volunteering in any capacity, or who is interested in donating, please direct them here and to www.cota.org.