Ashley had a very common surgical procedure done on Tuesday May 25th, right across the California Mexico border. The operation that repaired a hiatal hernia was a “success” in her mind. After 12 hours, discomfort was continually growing. 5 am Thursday morning, preparing to fly home from San Diego as planned, proved that something had gone awry. Making it to Friday it had become nearly impossible for her to breathe or find comfort. She knew this wasn’t normal and immediate help was required. Short of breath, excruciating pain in the chest, abdomen, sides, and back were a medical emergency. When the ambulance arrived it was a race to the hospital to find out just what was going on. Immediately, CT scans were showing a collapsed lung and it was working on lung number 2. Scans, labs, cultures were all done and proved she was already full blown septic and in an immediate need for a chest tube, relieving the toxic fluid from around her lungs and heart. The chest tube was placed and has been working nonstop since.

How does this happen? What was causing this? CT revealed a small perforation, or knick on the esophagus had caused all this devastation. Thru the tiny tear, everything she consumed was being sprayed around the abdominal cavity rather than going straight down into the stomach. Creating sepsis, infection of the blood. Maybe you know, maybe you don’t but sepsis on this level usually ends up in death. Drs were amazed she was still conscious and responsive upon arrival, saying had she waited just 1 hour more to seek out help, the prognosis for her would have been much different.

But our Ashley is a fighter!!!!

At this point she needs a specialist to perform a life saving procedure for her which would require placing an esophageal stent in to repair the existing hole. We have been unsuccessful up to this point in securing a willing and qualified Surgeon up for the job.

It’s always a money game and not carrying insurance automatically creates a hardship.

For now all We ask is for you to continue to pray that God is making a way and sending us a surgeon!

Hospitalization Day 10:

After countless antibiotics, Ashley has managed to overcome the Sepsis.

A few days ago a 2nd chest tube was inserted to target an abscess area in the upper lobe of her lung that the 1st tube was not successfully draining. Both chest tubes are still pulling fluid off of her lungs, keeping her in this fight until the repair is made.

Her days are long and frustrating for her. She complains of deep pain from the tubes, not being able to drink or eat anything, and how desperately she wants to get home to her family.

We are still on the waiting list for surgery at 3 of the top level facilities in Texas who are experienced and equipped to perform a repair on her perforated esophagus that is allowing fluids into her lung.

The upper level hospitals she has been submitted to for transfer continue to deny her due to “having no beds available at this time” for Ashley’s case. Due to being uninsured, it makes it that much more difficult to get a transfer. Unfortunately the small city we live in has no experience in dealing with this particular recommended operation.

So we wait... that’s all we can do. If her next scan, at the end of the week, still indicates the perforation has not healed itself and still no transfer has come through, her Drs will decide on their next course of action.

Although she has fought hard and overcome some serious issues, there is still quite a journey ahead for her.

Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts and to those who have reached out to us for updates. And we are grateful for those who have offered to extend financial support to help us get her fixed and back home with her family

Please continue to pray for Ashley.