My Experience as a Liver Advocate

Hello! I am Kimberly Nash, a liver advocate (how ironic that my name is after a liver disease I advocate for!) As you can imagine, I get lots of laughs advocating for NASH, being a “Nash”. Let me start by sharing that I am NO medical doctor, and these articles I write are based on my personal experience with liver disease.

I am a survivor of hepatitis C, living currently with cirrhosis and am a devoted liver advocate. You may have seen or read some of my articles written for HepatitisC.net. It is my passion to share information about the liver and how important the organ is in our bodies.

My liver health story

I underwent a clinical trial in 2014 and, in 2015, was cured of hepatitis C. My liver at the time was Stage 4 cirrhotic, which was in bad shape with decompensated damage (I will write more on this at a later date).

Just recently, I underwent another biopsy to determine if my liver has been repairing itself, now that I cured what was attacking it. It is with great excitement that I can share that my liver is regenerating, and with each passing year, it continues to heal. My liver is still cirrhotic (no longer decompensated), and I continue to deal with muscle wasting, joint pain, and everything that goes along with a struggling liver. However, I stay focused on the positive aspects of my journey — my liver is regenerating.

Maintaining my liver health by eating a clean diet is my ultimate goal – I eat lots of lean proteins, leafy greens, and absolutely no alcohol. I make sure to steer clear of a lot of fried foods, red meats, and processed foods like hot dogs and pizza rolls (you know, all those foods made for a fast-paced life).

My work as a liver advocate

I founded a non-profit organization that helps individuals with ANY liver disease access information and guidance about the liver. We just celebrated 10 years at The Bonnie Morgan Foundation, and just recently expanded the foundation to assist ALL liver diseases. Those who are a part of my foundation have first-hand experience with liver disease, either personally or caring for a loved one with liver disease.

The foundation hosts several private Facebook support groups, ranging from a general information group to groups for children with liver disease, caregivers, and a mental health page for those seeking daily positive encouragement. Advocating for liver disease and advocating for those also fighting a liver health condition, such as NASH/MASH (fatty liver disease), has become my life. I share my own experience in ways I have personally dealt with living with a chronic illness.

I just launched a podcast about chronic illness, such as liver disease, called “The Chronic Truth Podcast”. On this show, I will be interviewing patients with various health conditions who are living with a chronic illness such as NASH. Finding that so many now are living with pain every day and having a place you can go to for encouragement helps the not-so-good days be better. NASH/MASH also comes with chronic issues that arise in the later stages.

I hope that reading my articles, based on my personal experience and those I've encountered living with fatty liver disease, will give you a better perspective on what to expect. I understand the fear of being diagnosed with liver disease, and I am here to walk you through the steps I personally took to seek out a great doctor and healthcare team. I will be writing more on the process of what to expect in the coming weeks. Be sure to look for new informative articles to come.

Thanks for being here with us

Feel free to ask questions and get involved with our community at NASHDisease.net. Also, if you have a friend or family member who you think could benefit from this group, please refer them to our page. Again, I am not a medical doctor, and what I write about is based on my own experience living with and fighting liver disease. It is extremely important to consult your doctor for medical advice and guidance.