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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Ashby ·

Tuesday Talk: Ashby Update!


It’s Tuesday Talk!

Once a month, I link up with Ashley and Erika and share a little randomness…today, I wanted to share an update on our sweet Ashby 🙂 .

So many of you have checked on us over this last month, sent us encouraging notes and messages, prayed for us…you guys are absolutely AMAZING!  We are four weeks out from surgery and doing pretty well.  It was ROUGH there for a week post-op, but thanks to her amazing doctors, nurses and the strength and tenacity of truly one amazing eight year old girl, we’re on the other side of this big mountain we had to climb but still working our way down.  This particular surgery was so physically taxing but also emotionally exhausting as well.  I would love to say “we’re all back to normal over here”, but we’re not.  We’re better each and every day…but we’re not quite one hundred percent yet.  This has been really hard.  I am so very thankful for your prayers and support because we have (and still do!) needed it.

This particular surgery was much more invasive and the post-op swelling was more than anticipated, but we were able to remove the hard cast three weeks early and then last week, we were able to remove the soft cast as well…so this girl is officially “free to be a kid” as her surgeon said.  So, we’re working on that right now.  For sweet Ashby, she knows that just because this one surgery is over doesn’t mean this all won’t happen again.  Some days have been hard.

We haven’t set a date yet for her next surgery…a thought that makes me really want to cry…so in the meantime, we’re going to enjoy this sweet time between surgeries.  Our prayer is always first and foremost medical interventions that eliminate Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome all together, but we also pray for doctors and their wisdom as they guide us to next steps.  Ashby has begun to complain of “heaviness” which is very common with KTS patients, so if you’re looking to pray even more specifically, please pray for that to subside.  I do not know what the future holds for Ashby…and sometimes, all of the “what ifs” makes my mama heart very afraid, but God is using Ashby in the here and now to do big things for His kingdom, so I can’t even imagine what He’s planning to do with her in adulthood.

Again, from the very bottom of my heart, thank you for reaching out and checking on us over the last month.  You truly have no idea how much you’ve blessed all of us here at the Shull house. xo

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Comments

  1. Debbie Hibbert says

    I love posts about all of your kiddos … but there’s always been something (almost unexplainable) special about Ashby♥️ I felt it from the very moment you introduced her to us. Thank you for this update … I’ve prayed for you guys MANY times, and will continue. P.S. I loved Madeley’s birthday post, she seems like such a hoot!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      There are no words for how grateful I am that you pray for Ashby. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

    • Susan Nohelty says

      Please know that Ashby and her surgery travels are in my thoughts and prayers. What a strong and tenacious fighter she is. And don’t sell you or your family’s love and fighting spirit for her short either. You all infuse her with love and strength to get through these trying times. Love and prayers for all of you.

  5. Paula McKaughan says

    This sweet girl stole my heart. I still cry like a baby when you post the video of the first moment you held her. Sweet K and S right there with their little hearts wanting to console her from that first minute. I know as they all get older and more mature that their hearts still feel that way. Ashby, your family, her doctors and every other sweet child with the same disease are in my heart, my thoughts and most importantly my prayers; every single day. Ashby is most definitely my hero!!! ???

  6. Carly says

    Ashby is in my prayers every day. Prayers for the right things to happen for her. Only He knows. ??

  7. Paula says

    Hardest part is knowing how much these surgeries affect Ashby both physically and mentally! I pray obviously for each procedure, but I also pray for her spirit. Keeping that spark, hope & joy is so important! Because she has the support system in you, family and friends with prayer, it will definitely keep that light burning! You are doing an amazing job, Momma!

  8. Cherry says

    Thank you for the update on sweet Ashby! And thank you for sharing more specifics (heaviness) to include in our prayers! She, and your whole family, could tinue to be lifted up & surrounded in prayer! BE ENCOURAGED dear Shay! ???

  12. Kalea says

    You often tell us how strong Ashby is, but I think she got it from her momma ? She wouldn’t be such a strong girl without being led by a strong woman.
    So many prayers said for you and your family as you continue to navigate this path with such inspiring faith.

  13. Beth Graves says

    Continued prayers for your very brave warrior princess! She seems to face any adversity with that sweet smile and determination! She will come out on the other side of this very strong!!!

  14. Debbie E says

    Continuing to pray for your sweet Ashby. She is so strong and so brave but that’s is so much for a little girl to take on. My heart aches for her and for you. I know it must be so hard for you to see her in pain. I had never heard of this syndrome before and I hope some day soon they can find a permanent solution and cure!! Sending hugs to you all!

  15. Dana says

    Those comments up above say it all! We’ve grown so attached to sweet Ashby and it’s hard watching you guys suffer through this. We will pray for the heaviness to subside and for her to gain great strength from our Lord through all of this. Praying for you as well, Shay. Going through things like this with our kids is so difficult! We had a glimpse of it for about 5 months and it was probably the hardest time of my life. I really agree with the statement that kids are like mothers’ hearts walking around outside of their bodies. There is just such a vulnerability with how much we love our babies! ❤️

  16. Lauren says

    Praying for precious Ashby!!! I can only imagine how it must be for you all. Praying for you as you walk through all the unknowns, that you continue to find strength in God. Praying she is healed and for the heaviness to subside!

  19. Megan says

    So many prayers and special thoughts for Ashby and your entire family! She is an amazingly strong girl and your family is so strong standing by her side. There is no doubt that God is with you and it’s amazing how many lives she is already touching…I can only imagine the great things to come.

  20. Amie P says

    Is there an address we can use to send her cards to help cheer her up? Obviously not your residence, but maybe a business address or P.O. Box? We would love to do that for her! Maybe she would like to receive mail from all over the US or even the world. 🙂

  22. Sara says

    Your girl has touched so many hearts. Please give her a big hug from us here in Red Sox Nation (even though I know she’d only really want it from those darn New Yorkers ;)…Our family has thought of yours so often. Sending lots of love and many prayers from Boston to Texas.

  24. Julie H. says

    Thank you for he update. She is one strong little girl with the sweetest smile. Will continue to pray for her, and you! ????

  25. Rachel Shafer says

    Praying Matthew 11:28-30 over Ashby today! 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” And continued prayers for healing, wisdom for the doctors and strength and grace for you and your family.

  26. Diane says

    So many prayers for sweet Ashby and your family. Your prayers were so helpful during my colon surgery. Ashby’s strength is an inspiration to all. Big hugs from Waco ???!

  27. Joanne says

    Aw, what a sweet brave girl. So glad she is free to be a kid again.. even if it will not be forever. All you can do is live in the moment and try to keep those mama worries at bay; something that I am sure is way easier to day than do.

  28. Sandi Kellman says

    Thank you Shay for the update what a sweet beautiful child she is! I’ve decided to put her in my prayer book I screenshot it a picture of her and her little sister and will pray for both of them and you daily the verse on the opposite page of that prayer page is: therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation the old has gone the new has come
    2 Corinthians 5:17
    and I will pray for sweet Ashby that the Lord heals her completely from head to toe and that she will praise his name for the rest of Her sweet life. I will also pray for your comfort along with your family.

  29. Christina says

    Praying with you for Ashby and for your family. Thanks for sharing an update on her. She’s been often on my mind.

  30. Elaine says

    I love reading these updates. It makes my heart so sad that this sweet girl has endured so much pain. I have been praying for Ashby amd her Doctors and will Continue to do so ❤️

  31. Jill says

    I’m always praying for your Ashby. I cry out to God for her, my heart hurts at the suffering and unknown. But He knows. And He cares for her more than all of us combined! I’m so grateful she has a fun and loving family to live this through with!
    ???

  32. Liz Thorson says

    Ashby is one very special, precious girl! So many of your followers love and care about each of your children, but sweet Ashby and her courageous, endless battle with this disease holds a very special place in so many of our hearts. Here’s to her and your dear Mama heart, Shay. I cannot imagine how difficult this journey has been and will continue to be for Ashby. I am hoping this time of freedom to just be a kid is filled with joy and that the heaviness lessens intensity!

  35. ~B~ says

    We often say that facing the unknown is so hard, but really it is facing “the known” that can be even more challenging. While the unknown can hold many fears and uncertainties, knowing what sweet Ashby has already endured and that she may face that again, is so hard. We adore your sweet family, Shay, and appreciate all that you share with us. We admire your faith, your strength and your courage and hold your sweet girl and family in our hearts and especially our prayers.

  36. Jaren says

    Her bright sweet little soul comes right across the screen! God definitely has big plans! Continued prayers for her and y’all!

  37. Anneka says

    Sweet Ashby. ❤ I’m glad her next surgery isn’t scheduled. Hopefully that gives her a bit of a mental break. I’m praying for her to continue to do well.

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