Ashley McCowan and Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Let’s come together as a community and help raise money for our dear friend Ashley McCowan~Ashley is mostly known in our great community for her contagious smile and her bubbly personality. She makes a friend to everyone she comes in contact with, she loves with no boundaries and she is what we should all be more like.  She was raised in Pickens Co and she resides in Pickens co now with her Father Jeff McCowan. Who he, himself is a true Hero and has been right by Ashley’s side every step of the way despite work and any other duty that calls. Ashley was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a very rare disorder and in Ashleys case, it happened after she had a respiratory infection in January)  in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves with weakness and tingling in your fingertips and toes being usually the first symptoms. These sensations quickly spread, eventually paralyzing your whole body. In most severe cases it quickly becomes a medical emergency.  Ashley’s form of Guillain-Barré syndrome did in fact  escalate to being this severe and in a matter of weeks from March-May she was completely unable to walk, cloth herself or even feed herself and now has to have complete full-assistance and is wheelchair bound even as of today. This has been a true struggle for her. Ashley’s symptoms started a few weeks after she contracted and gotten over a respiratory infection( a common cold) in late January 2019. Beginning around the 2nd week in February she started to notice the tingling in her fingers and toes and symptoms quickly started to escalate. She even started to have to hold on to stuff around her just to walk. She checked into Kennestone Hospital for help, they thought she could possibly have MS with all the symptoms she was experiencing but a Spinal Tap would soon diagnose her with Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome.   From May-June 2019 she was hospitalized and stayed for several weeks completing IV/IG treatment (basically Plasma Exchange treatment) and doing Physical therapy. She also had to have a Pic Line inserted in her neck as well. After a few weeks of this struggle her symptoms unfortunately started to worsen. August 5th she went back in the hospital and after completing another round of IV/IG treatment and physical therapy for one week she got to come home and start the recovery process. There is no known cure for Guillain-Barre Syndrome but several treatments can ease symptoms and reduce the duration of the illness. Most people recover from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, though some may experience lingering effects from it, such as weakness, numbness or fatigue. So this is not a death sentence for Ashley, only a bump in the road. Ashley gives praise to Jesus knowing that this is Gods perfect timing and there is significant reason behind this set back but to her It’s not even a set back but a push forward to better life and truly enjoying this great gift called “Life” that God gave us. She does not take one day for granted and she carries a spirit of positivity and knowing she is gonna kick this disease in the butt! WellStar has helped with financial medical assistance but we know how difficult it is to not work and go through something this intense and how financially of a burden it can be.  We know Ashley will heal to being 100% back to herself again and even better, but it will take some time. Everyone who knows Ashley knows she doesn’t let anything stand in her way of life or the Lord and she puts up a fight no matter what obstacles come her way. She is a true winner and a hero and a lifelong best friend of mine.