In late 2022, Aubrie’s family noticed her eyes were turning yellow. Aubrie’s pediatrician recommended they visit Children’s Hospital Colorado, where she had a liver biopsy and underwent multiple tests. Doctors discovered that she had autoimmune hepatitis of the liver, a chronic disease that was causing damage to this critical organ. Various therapies and medications helped this wise-beyond-her-years little girl recover from her liver condition, but later, specialists at Children’s Colorado determined that Aubrie had also developed severe aplastic anemia.

This form of anemia is a life-threatening condition in which bone marrow stops producing blood cells following an acute attack of hepatitis. After trying immunosuppressive therapy to stop her body’s overactive immune response, doctors ultimately determined that Aubrie needed a bone marrow transplant to give her the best chance at recovery. She began chemotherapy and radiation, and before her bone marrow transplant, doctors encouraged Aubrie to do something fun with her hair. She chopped her long locks into an adorable pixie style – and dyed her hair purple, since it would soon start falling out.

Aubrie, now 13, has faced several serious complications along the way, including high blood pressure and adverse reactions to several medications. Although her bone marrow transplant was successful, a virus that was previously dormant in her body resurfaced and began to make her extremely sick. She is now enrolled in a new research study and has received a groundbreaking therapy that involves a transfusion of white blood cells – from her own grandmother - that have antibodies to attack the specific virus she is battling. Her family is hopeful that her bone marrow transplant and the continued transfusions will reset her immune system and eliminate the virus so she can soon get back to all the things she loves, including swimming and outdoor adventures.

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Update! 6/5/2024 Aubrie is virus free! She is still working on weekly transfusions to rebuild her immunity but was able to go home for the first time since October 2023! Thank you for supporting her, fellow patients and future children in need!