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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 ·

Ashby update.


Happy Monday, friends!

I just wanted to take a minute and thank all of you for your love, encouragement, support and prayers on Friday.  Miss Ashby had her 24th surgery, and thanks in part to so many of you, it was covered in peace.  We are just so incredibly blessed by so many who pray over our girl, her surgeon, the hospital staff and our family.  We feel those prayers.  We certainly felt them on Friday.

This time around, for #24, Ashby had debulking of the veins in her chest and right hand including the removal of some nasty blood clots too.  Everything went smoothly and by Friday night, she was resting comfortably in her room…

…watching every minute of the Yankees’ game.  “Did I miss the Yankee game” was the VERY first question she asked when they wheeled her to us after being in recovery.  Andrew stayed with us that night until about 7:30 and brought us dinner, watched the game and loved on his girls before heading back to McKinney.  Ashby and I stayed the night and were home early the next morning.

Ashby will be home with me this week until Wednesday.  We’re watching lots of movies, and Andrew and I are basically her new Uber Eats service.  She’s not a big eater in the first place, so anytime she’s been asking for something, we’re hopping up and getting it STAT.

Having vascular surgery is unfortunately for Ashby, a lifelong necessity.  As much as I would love to say “this was our last one”, that’s just not the reality.  Despite the frequency and volume of surgeries, it doesn’t make anything easier…it actually makes everything emotionally and physically harder.  I have little thoughts about each and every surgery.  #24 will be remembered mostly for the chest incision.  It was a bit more than we were expecting, but I’m very thankful she had it done.  No one needs a blood clot inches from their right lung.

Thank you again for loving on our girl.  I can never thank you enough. xx

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Comments

  1. Alison says

    So happy to hear Ashby is recovering well. The comment about y’all being her Uber eats drivers is hilarious! Continuing to send prayers and love.

  2. Heather says

    I had open heart surgery when I was her age…I have had 3 in total. The scar is so much a normal part of my life that I really don´t think about it at all and I am sure she won´t either. I told my husband a bunch of guys were looking at my boobs and he had to correct me that they were actually looking at my scar and it never occured to me at all! I hope she has an easy recovery and is back to her daily routine soon!

  3. Kelly says

    Could we organize a card drive for Ashby for surgery 25? They could be mailed in over the next few weeks/months and you could hold on to them and give them to her when the time is right! You could post something for your readers who have been praying for your family and Ashby for years! ❤️

  5. Beth Knecht says

    We walked out of our local children’s hospital on Friday for a routine urology check-up and I couldn’t help but stop and pray for so many families that we passed while entering and exiting. So many families with so many needs and in need of so many prayers! So glad this community can pray for you all!! Everyone deserves a community rooting behind them as they navigate so many unfortunate medical concerns! Hoping for a good day for Miss Ashby!

  7. NancyK says

    So thankful Ashby is home and recovery. Continue prayers for this precious child of yours. I’m happy to read Ashby didn’t miss her game! Prayers for you and your sweet family.

  8. Sheaffer says

    I have absolute confidence that your girl was covered in prayer. Continued prayers today for good rest and continued healing. We Love You, Ashby!!! xoxo

  9. Jamie says

    Oh what a sweet & brave girl she is! Are they able to spot the clots ahead of time or are they found during the surgery?

  11. Amy Heinl says

    Continued prayers for her healing and recovery this week. She is one of the bravestcwarriors I know.

  12. traci m says

    So glad things went well and praying for continued healing. Always praying for your sweet girl.

  13. Becky G says

    Ashby’s strength and fortitude inspires all of us. She has already changed the world! Continued prayers for your amazing girl!

  14. Dana P says

    So so thankful to hear that she is doing just fine! Praying for rest for your hearts and anxieties about the future. 💗

    • Leticia says

      Dana – thanks for sharing this! I have a friend who just got the news of breast cancer, and she has 3 young children. It’s all overwhelming at the moment.

  18. Paula McKaughan says

    Praying for a speedy recovery for that sweet amazing girl, and praying for strength for you, Mama. xoxo

  19. polly pover says

    Continued prayers for all of you and admiration for the strength of that child and those that love her the most.

  20. Christy says

    I am so glad to hear that everything went smoothly. I have said many of prayers for your sweet girl!

  22. Laura Holmes says

    God Bless Ashby. What an amazing little girl. She’s very lucky to have you and Andrew as parents and your strong faith in God to lead the way. Here’s to a speedy recovery!

  23. Steph says

    My husband is a vascular surgeon and I asked him about this. Wow. Sounds like God placed her right where she needed to be. What a lucky girl to have you for parents. ❤️❤️ Sending you all the happiest thoughts.

  24. Maryellen says

    God has special plans for your sweet Ashby. I am thankful he directed her to your family.
    She couldn’t have better parents as she takes this life long journey.
    Praying for complete and quickly healing. Blessings ♥

  25. Kathy Roe says

    Continued prayers for Ashby. Such a brave soul! She is so lucky to have such a wonderful family to care for her.

  27. Debbie says

    Wow! Ashby is a sweet girl who is blessed unmeasurably by God’s provident placement of her in your home. Not every family would be able to handle all that you must with her care. It is wonderful to see you all rally around her. I know this must be difficult in so many ways, especially knowing that it is a lifelong difficulty. Praying for all of you!

  28. WhittyWife (Lindsay) says

    So much love to you all! I’m so happy your sweet girl did so great and is recovering. I’m so sorry she has to live with this. ❤️

  29. Elonda says

    My heart breaks for her having to endure this. I have 21 surgeries (cancer, babies and a bad foot) and I find that it is harder the more you have. Please let her know that she is amazing.

  30. Laura Crenshaw says

    Praise the Lord for a successful surgery. Even after #24, I am sure that the next one still brings on anxiety. Bless her sweet heart. Your family is absolutely precious! And what a gift for Ashby and your family to find one another and to be so blessed. Continued prayers for Ashby. What a fighter!! I want that girl on my team!!
    And I love your recipes, book reviews, clothing and decor ideas!! And of course learning about your family!! Take care.

  31. Kristin Lyngaas says

    Praise God everything went well. Now it’s time to pray for physical recovery and emotional recovery until the next operation. God bless all of you 🙏❤️

  32. ERICA POLLAK says

    Thanks to you for adopting her. Can you only imagine where she’d be not having these surgeries as an orphan? She may not be alive today. Seems like you adopted her at just the right time. It happened for a reason. Happy she is home and healing well.

  34. Debbie K. says

    Love me some sweet Miss Ashby, and I’ve never met her in person. She’s been in my thoughts and prayers all weekend. Love the Uber Eats comment! Continued prayers for all of you.

  35. Elyse says

    Nothing like thinking about a brave little girl conquer something so big to just put everything else into perspective. Prayers for your whole family. <3

  38. Debbra Weber says

    Continued prayers for Ashby’s healing and recovery and peace to her and your entire family. High five to Ashby for choosing the candy cane jammies! I just sports my Christmas PJ’s this past weekend as well as the night time temps dipped down into the 20’s!

  40. Kathy says

    So glad to hear that Ashby’s 24th surgery went well, and they got those nasty blood clots! I love the idea of a card drive for Ashby to let her know people are praying for her, and hopefully brighten her day. 🙂

  41. Paula says

    Such a sweet (bitter 😅) moment when Ashby ask for her Yankee game. I love it! Prayers for swift healing.

  42. Kelsey Schaefer says

    Continued prayers for sweet Ashby! She is such a rockstar! I’ve been praying for her for years. On a side note, I hope she enjoyed her hospital bed. I was an engineer that worked on the Centrella beds! 🙂

  43. Laura says

    Wow, that’s a lot for yall. May the food be good and the cuddles be plentiful. I feel like Ashby is having such a grounding influence of how loved she is as she grows up. She will seriously be rooted in how much her family loves her, God loves her, all these people around the world caring and praying for her. And I pray that this grounding will give her a steady love and appreciation for herself. I feel sure she’s already using that love to make the world around her a better place 🙂

  44. Barb says

    All praise to God for His wonderful care of Ashby.
    Is. 41:13

    Much love to you Ashby for all the courage thru all of your surgeries. God has special plans for you.

  47. Debbie says

    So thankful for answered prayers for Ashby and her medical team! She is such an inspiration. She always that precious smile!🙏🙌🙌🙏

  48. Deena says

    Ashby’s always in my prayers but add special ones when she’s having another procedure. She really is a tough girl! Sending hugs to her and you all.

  49. Ashley says

    So thankful to hear that she came through her surgery well and bless her heart, she didn’t want to miss the Yankees game!! I love that! I’m still a little new here and am so very sorry she has to have these continued surgeries, but truly, she couldn’t have better parents! I can feel the love just through your words here and I hope I can be as amazing of a momma as you are someday (for now, I’m just a cat momma, haha!).

    Make Life Marvelous

  52. Tanya says

    Bless her! May God Almighty cover her in love healing and blessings! She is one tough cookie!!!❤️ And may All your family receive prayers and love as well!

  54. Elizabeth Feldpausch says

    So happy the surgery was a success and that she is on the mend! Continued prayers for her recovery!!

  55. Amanda says

    Thanks for the update. It sure makes the little stresses of my day seem so minor. She is always in my prayers.

  57. sandi says

    I love reading the comments and seeing all the people praying for your daughter. The fact that we don’t “know” you and you don’t know us is just amazing. I also think it’s funny when someone comes at you and makes a not so nice comment and your readers come to your defense. It’s a crazy sweet community you have built here.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      It is a CRAZY amazing community. I am so thankful for every single person here. It’s humbling to be a part of something so special.

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