A flower in the Wind April 17,  2017  6:44am EST

My name is Ashley and I am 30 years old. I was born in 1986 with a heart murmur and 6 weeks after I was born I had to have my first open heart surgery. I could only imagine what my parents were thinking and feeling. My mom had a miscarriage before I was born so I'm sure they were both very worried about the outcome. I had my surgery and all was well until I was 5 years old. I remember throwing up in the bathroom at school and my parents took me to the doctor and another surgery was required. It's funny that I look back and didn't realize at the time that I had a normal scarless chest until I was 5. I can't remember if it was the first or second surgery or maybe both, but a prayer group consisting of family members and total strangers to me were praying for my recovery. I recovered and got the usual checkups (of course being so young I don't remember how often I went). It wasn't until later I found out besides the heart murmur I have Mitral Value Regurgutation. In 2006 I had Balloon Valvuloplasty. Also before my procedure my mom passed away from cancer. I am blessed because the only heart medicine I have to take is Vasetoc. I use to take it once a day but now I take it twice a day. My doctor said the medicine is really working for me whereas in some patients it doesn't. I also use to have to go every 6 months for checkups now I go 1x a year. This is something I will be facing until the day I die. In the future I may have to get an artifical value. Soon I will be wanting to speak with my doctor about pregnancy. Motherhood is something I look forward to and I am hoping that I can carry a baby to term. All in All this has been a journey and I continue it every day. God is my number 1 supporter along with my family and friends. I am glad I was given a chance to remain in the world and now I work as a social worker to cancer patients and I couldn't be any more happier!