A journey of the heart
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on December 16, 2015 1:46 PM
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Ashley Larimore, a senior at Wayne Early/Middle College High School, is shown with some of the toys collected by her church, Garris Chapel United Methodist, in support of her effort to provide toys to children at Wayne Memorial and Duke hospitals. Ashley, 17, is on a heart transplant list and prepared for her own catheterization and possible hospitalization at Duke, awaiting a donor.�
Ashley Larimore had already packed her bags in anticipation of this week's heart catheterization at Duke Hospital.
Since being recently placed on the heart transplant list, she said she has been preparing to spend the holidays in the hospital.
"I always thought ever since I was put on the list, I always thought I would get my heart around Christmas time," she said.
The 17-year-old senior at Wayne Early/Middle College High School has spent the bulk of her young life bracing for this.
Born a twin, brother Matthew weighed 2 pounds, 1 ounce while Ashley weighed 1 pound, 12 ounces, says their mother, Linda Larimore.
"I know that is hard to even imagine," she said. " Literally, Matthew and Ashley were not much bigger than a Barbie doll."
The premature siblings had complications and while Ashley appeared to be "sicker" than Matthew, Mrs. Larimore said, he would be the one to succumb 30 days after being delivered.
God had other plans for her daughter, she maintains, and has been the recipient of miracle after miracle.
It has not been without sacrifice, however. She wasn't able to be as active as other children, playing sports and such.
Over the years, physicians have kept a close eye on her health issues, particularly her heart.
"They first checked my brother (Daniel, who is older) when he was in sixth grade and then they realized that his heart was enlarged," Ashley said. "They decided to check me before I hit puberty, in fourth grade, and mine wasn't enlarged but the bottom of my heart is so rigid so it's doing more internal damage.
"My numbers have been pretty stable for like a couple years after and then it began to progressively change."
About two years ago, a transplant was mentioned, as well as putting in a pacemaker. But that did not happen.
When she had her last catheterization, the decision was made to start the transplant process.
"I just wait until there's a donor that comes available. They check me every three months," Ashley said. "We had an appointment in September and I had begun to feel a little worse, pain in my chest, so they decided to do a catheterization in December.
"They asked, 'Do you want it before Christmas or after? It's very likely that you'll end up in the hospital until you get a new heart.' I said, 'Let's do it before.'"
While the family, which also includes dad, Greg, plays the waiting game, Ashley focused on completing her senior project.
Starting in her junior year, she began with a research paper, on the topic of pediatric nursing.
"I have always had a heart for helping sick kids because I can relate to it," she explained.
She decided for her product she would take it a step further and do something tangible.
Enlisting the help of her church, Garris Chapel United Methodist, she had a large toy box made and held a toy drive.
"I asked my church to donate toys. They were more than willing to," she said. "I ended up with a whole office of toys at my house."
Church members Bob White handled the construction and Terri Thomas did the painting.
And then over a week ago, Ashley presented a toy box overflowing with toys to the fifth floor pediatrics ward of Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Nurses there said it has already been well-received by children having to stay in the hospital.
"It kind of calms them down, to have something for them to enjoy. It helped me to better get a blood presure (reading)," nurse Ginny Wilkins said.
Ashley's big-hearted generosity did not stop there, though.
"I also did one for Duke Hospital," she said. "I will be presenting the one at Duke when I go for my heart catheterization."
The Larimores found out during Tuesday's visit that she will be home for Christmas. Doctors plan to admit Ashley on Monday.
To follow Ashley's unfolding story, a Facebook page has been set up under Ashley's Heart Journey. She also writes a blog, at https://ashleysheartjourney.wordpress.com.