Ashley's Journal

Kimberly Eisenhut  You can and will do great! Your children are your motivation and inspiration to get through this and be strong! I am still waiting, but do know the stress feeling of every appointment, unknown and being a single mom not wanting to stress my teenage son. You have a great support system and a great team to get you through every step. Leave it to them and just take care of you by letting go of what yuo cannot control and trusting the process. Much love, hugs and good wishes to you and your family

Susan Lynn  Ashley - I also agree with Kimberly's feedback. You'll get through this with flying colors. We were all scared right up to game day, but you'll be anxious to put it behind you. Remember, show up, take a quick nap, and you're done! You can do it!

Ashley Darga  Thank you Kimberly, it's extra tough with kiddos I think. How to be honest but reassuring with them, open but trying not to scare them. It must be a hard balance with a teenager. Mine are only 7 & 4 so they take what we say at face value still. 

Ashley Darga  Thank you Susan! I keep telling my husband that the actual surgery will be way harder for him than me since he'll have to be conscious. 

Susan Lynn  Ashley - You're absolutely right! When I woke up from surgery, I felt rested and relaxed. My husband and my sister looked wiped out. We get all the good drugs and our families get the stress, cafeteria food, and bad coffee. You'll both do just fine! By Tuesday, you'll both feel like superheroes!

Klara Čičić  Dear Ashley, I was in the same dilemma with my kids, they are 6, 3 and a half and 1. The oldest was so interested in where I was going and why. I answered all of his questions honestly and positively. Not talking about possible negative outcomes (luckly he didn't ask about them either). "Mummy is going to get her heart fixed"...I explained how cool surgeons are and how cool stuff can be done today via robotics...and since he showed interest, I even find this super simple animation of robotic mitral valve surgery on Youtube. I think he watched it a hundred times on repeat. We were so surprised he wanted to do that. But we went with it. I made this whole conversation as positive as I could from the first moment...how happy and blessed I am to have the opportunity to fix this error mommy was born with... Reassuring him that everything will be fine, but also that mummy will need time to rest and recover after.... 
I've read alot of articles/advices on how to approach a child when this situation occurs, I followed those and it turned up very good. My middle was maybe too little to comprehend it all, she just repeated "mummy is going to Germany" haha and watched her big brother's model of behaviour so luckly noone made a big drama. I think because I approached it with great positivity, acted like I was really happy to go (which I really was, on one hand) and that it is something that just has to be done. That's why they accepted it so good maybe. Best of luck! 

Richard Munson  I can only speak for me of course but my latest echo after mitral valve repair 2 years ago showed that there was improvement in both of those areas of the heart. 

Richard Munson  Yes as well as chamber size increase improved. I was told why by doctor but it all runs together. Something about the heart compensating for the under performing mitral valve. Once repaired these issues actually improved in my case, not always others. Keep in mind i did not wait till i was on deaths door to get this done. The longer you wait the harder it becomes.