Ashley's Story

Images Captured By Hartfelt Images

Meet miracle baby Ashley. This Tiny Light was born with two congenital heart defects, which were not detected until she was three days old. Due to these defects she went into congestive heart failure, which started at only a week old. At eight weeks old she was diagnosed with failure to thrive and a feeding tube was put in. She was also diagnosed with gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

Ashley was in significant heart failure and was booked for open-heart surgery at four months old. Her surgery was cancelled because her heart defects were showing signs of improvement. Her heart continued to be monitored and heart surgery was still likely. “We were told by all of her doctors that it would be impossible for her to avoid surgery because her VSD was so hard that it would never close enough to be able to avoid surgery. Also, the type of VSD was one that is rare and very rare to close.”

Four days before Christmas Ashley’s family received the best gift ever. Ashley had a cardiology check-up and they were told that not only had her ASD closed, but also her VSD had gotten so small that surgery would never be needed! Ashley was out of heart failure and taken off all heart medications. It was a miracle that even the doctor could not explain!

Ashley’s strength hasn’t only gotten her through these hard times; it has also helped her parents. They watched her struggle through it all with a smile on her face.  She is now healthy and thriving. She loves crawling after her brother. She is a busy little lady, and looking at her it would be impossible to tell what she has been through. She received the honor of ‘modeling’  in The Heart Truth Fashion Gala, a fashion event where she was featured as a heart disease survivor.

Ashley will continue to be monitored by a cardiologist. “Her long-term future looks bright, without any restrictions and full of possibilities and opportunities.” While many lessons have been taught and learned along Ashley’s heart journey, Ashley’s parents have discovered with no doubt what matters most in life. Family.

Story by Angela Stephen-Dewhurst