During the summer of 2015, junior Ashaunti Johnson had to be rushed to the hospital.

“I was given medication to calm down my rash and got my blood worked,” Johnson said. “That’s when they found my disease.”

Johnson was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), and Autoimmune Hepatitis at the age of 15.

“I had to stop playing basketball,” Johnson said. “It’s the sport I love most and it broke my heart that I wouldn’t be able to play to avoid aggravating my liver.”

PSC is a disease causing inflammation and possible blockage of the bile ducts forcing bile-a digestive substance-to remain within the liver causing damage. Autoimmune hepatitis is when the immune system begins to attack the liver.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do,” Johnson said. “I had to stop doing things to get better.”

There is no cure for either PSC or autoimmune hepatitis, but Johnson can treat her liver with medication and healthy living.

“I try to maintain what I can eat to keep control of my liver,” Johnson said. “Staying healthy and working out without making myself pass out.”

The thought of her diseases do not make sense to her, leading Johnson to questioning whether she has them or not.

“I’m still in denial I have the diseases,” Johnson said. “I stop taking my medicine to see if it affects my body and it does, but I still don’t believe it.”

She has made it through the year with self-motivation and by the people in her life giving her positivity.

“The hardest of times was when I had first found out,” Johnson said. “ [Junior] Raven Perez was my biggest motivation.”

Though her family and friends are a big part of helping her through, Johnson believed in the people of Children’s Hospital of Dallas that take care of her medical needs. Johnson wants to make sure the diseases don’t have an effect on the person she is.

“I try to not let it affect what I want and try to find my way around it,” Johnson said. “I almost gave up until I found my motivation after my second surgery that made me realize I need to take care of my body.”

Before the diagnosis, Johnson was active, playing basketball. She had to quit, which made her gain weight until starting her medication. Johnson wants to make sure that her body features won’t be changed anymore.

“I have to take my medicine every morning and night,” Johnson said. “Even though I don’t always want to, I need to keep myself healthy.”

Johnson’s liver can cause her issues, but she remains optimistic.

“I want to be a professional basketball player and receive scholarships,” Johnson said. “And I want that to be my motivation to continue what I am doing to get to my goal.”

Despite a healthy lifestyle, it is likely for a continuous loss of liver function. If it becomes severe, a liver transplant may become necessary.

“My goal is to not have to get a liver transplant,” Johnson said. “And the key to keeping it that way is to stay healthy and never give up.”