Story Update: Ashley Mogg, a 23-Year Old Jamaican, Now A-Fib Free!

I’ve seldom been so happy to write about an A-Fib success story (actually an update)! A story that had such a miserable beginning.

A-Fib at 17 and Started Losing Sight!

Eighteen months ago, I wrote a story about 21-year-old Ashley Mogg from Jamaica. Her A-Fib was horrible. Her first A-Fib attack came at age 17 when she had just stopped playing field hockey. Ashley wrote:

Ashley Mogg from Jamaica

“I was feeling extremely unfit. My heart rate sped up and my chest got tight. My throat felt like it was closing, and I was starving for a breath. Then the most frightening thing happened―I started losing my sight! Pitch black was all I saw. I could hear my friend talking to me through it. It was so scary for me.”

Her doctor told her losing sight was a symptom of pre-faint or pre-syncope. Her stress test showed a heart rate that at times went up to 270 bpm.

Clinical Depression Sets In

To make matters worse, her cousin died suddenly. Then Ashley had to have an appendectomy which revealed a low grade Neuroendocrine tumor (cancer). Coupled with her dreadful A-Fib symptoms, she became extremely depressed and anxious (clinical depression is all too common in new A-Fib patients). She also suffered weight loss and became very thin.

No A-Fib Centers in Jamaica

Unfortunately, when I researched resources for her I couldn’t find any A-Fib centers or Electrophysiologists in Jamaica. It was heart breaking that such a young woman had such a debilitating case of A-Fib, and I couldn’t find anyone near her to take care of her.

November 2016: Asking for Funding and Help for Ashley

What I did was publish her story on A-Fib.com and ask for donations to pay for her to see an EP in the U.S. (Read Jamaican Woman, 21, Living in A-Fib with Meager Treatment)

In addition, I sent Ashley’s story to Dr. Andrea Natale, a master EP with a world-wide reputation. A colleague of his, Dr. Francesco Santoni, emailed me that he tries to help arrhythmia patients in Jamaica through the Rotary Club and another foundation. Travis Smith, President of the Rotary Club of Downtown Kingston, Jamaica championed Ashley’s cause.

Dr. Natale suggested we work with Dr. Lisa Hurlock in Kingston, Jamaica at the University of the West Indies who could follow her arrhythmia. She met with Ashley and her mother, Loretta. Dr. Natale confirmed that there was no EP lab in Jamaica. He said he would try to find money from the A-Fib industry to help Ashley.

Dr. Natale’s Heroic Efforts to Help Ashley―Biosense Webster Donation

Dr Andrea Natale

Dr. Natale obtained a donation from Biosense Webster (Johnson & Johnson) to cover travel expenses for Ashley and her mother to St. David’s Medical Center, Austin, TX including lodging, food and transportation. He also arranged for St. David’s to waive all fees for Ashley’s catheter ablation. The Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Foundation accepted donations to help Ashley. Barbara Thomas and Amy Dixon coordinated everything at St. David’s.

(I probably don’t have all the names of everyone involved in helping Ashley. Please email me if I haven’t mentioned you or someone else who helped.)

Ashley, mom Loretta and hospital staff

July 2017: Ashley Has Her Ablation & is A-Fib Free!

On July 19, 2017, Ashley had her ablation. She is now A-Fib free. It was performed by Dr. Natale and his team at St. David’s Medical Center, Austin, TX. Since then, she has written that she is doing fine and has started college in Jamaica (she wants to go to medical school).

In an excerpt from her personal story (written before her ablation became a reality), Ashley shared these lessons learned:

“Educate Yourself―Find the Best Doctors Available. If you live in a country like myself where there are very few Electrophysiologists or heart rhythm specialists, find a reliable cardiologist as well as a general doctor who know your history. Do maximum research on your own and with your doctor and health care professionals. Stay informed.

…Stay positive…You are NOT ALONE!”

Remarkable for a 21-year old who has had a rapid beating heart since childhood.

March 2018 Update: Email from Ashley’s Mother

Loretta Mogg, Ashley’s mother recently wrote me:

Ashley and her mom, Loretta

“I am Loretta Mogg, the mother of Ashley Mogg. I want to express a heartfelt thanks to you for posting my daughter’s story and seeking help for her.

Just a little update. After nearly a year since her ablation, she is back in University and doing well. She is still determined to become a doctor.

Thank you for allowing God to use your own experience to change the life of another. Blessings to you and your family.”

Thanks to All, Especially to Dr. Natale

It’s impossible to adequately thank everyone, especially Dr. Natale, who helped Ashley in her incredibly difficult A-Fib journey.

I don’t know if we’ll ever understand how a young 17-year-old woman could develop such awful A-Fib symptoms. (Perhaps it related to her cancerous appendectomy.)

Faith and a Purposeful Life

Kudos to Ashley for not giving up with all she went through! She’s an incredible young woman. She had to grow up fast. She became a woman of faith with a purposeful life. In her own words, “It takes prayers and positive thinking to keep living with peace of mind.”

Be Inspired: You, too, Can Help Others With A-Fib

One way to live a life of faith and purpose is to help others suffering with Atrial Fibrillation. Join our Prayer and Positive Thoughts group or our A-Fib Support Volunteers group.

Offering hope: Having someone you can turn to for advice, emotional support, and a sense of hope that you can be cured, may bring A-Fib patients (and their families) peace of mind.

We are blessed to have many generous people who have volunteered to help others get through their A-Fib ordeal (not all are ‘cured’). To learn more and how you can join the effort, see my article: ‘Want to Become a A-Fib Support Volunteer?