Shelby's 6th Open Heart Surgery
Donation protected
Shelby Vanhemelryck was born with a VSD (ventricular septal defect), which technically means a hole in her heart. Due to this defect, Shelby was never able to play any of the sports she loved including: golf, softball and basketball. After 5 open heart surgeries throughout 10 of her young years, Shelby had her valve replaced with a cow valve (yes, the animal!). This surgery finally let Shelby play the sports she loved competitivly for the first time. In the past four years, Shelby has been very successful in her athletics being one of the number one players on the Capital golf team, played JV/Varsity basketball and started on the softball team.
Unfortunately, Shelbys time playing sports was cut short. A few months ago, Shelby was experiencing chest pains. When she went to the heart doctors to get it checked out, they put her through a stress test which diagnosed Shelby with aortic valve stenosis. Aortic valve stenosis occurs when the heart's aortic valve narrows and when the aortic valve is obstructed, your heart needs to work harder to pump blood to your body. This was causing Shelbys heart rate to increase immensely even when she was doing little physical activity. If she continued playing sports with this condition, a heart attack was possible at any moment. Shelby just recently went down to Salt Lake for a cath lab to find out what the issue was and possibly a solution. The doctors figured out that the valve needed to be replaced with a bigger one to allow better flow. In order to do that, Shelby has to indure in her 6th open heart surgery in 16 years. This surgery is planned to be in 4-6 weeks.
Of course, with another surgery, comes more expenses. The Vanhemelryck family: Dean, Robyn, Kylee, Shelby and Carson have had the costs of 5 open heart surgeries already while also having an older daughter in college, Kylee, and a younger son in middle school, Carson. These funds that I am hoping to raise would go towards the expenses of Shelbys upcoming surgery, hotels, food, travel costs, etc. Anything would help this already very deserving family.
Shelby is one of the biggest inspirations you will ever meet. Even with the struggles her condition has put her through, she never fails to have a smile on her face and a fight in her heart. Along with Shelby, her family has been her biggest supporters and by her side every step of the way. They are all very deserving of the helpful funds.
No matter what the final total, I will be thankful for the support that family, friends and the community has put behind Shelby througout her entire fight.
I hope you find it in your heart to help out, thank you!
Unfortunately, Shelbys time playing sports was cut short. A few months ago, Shelby was experiencing chest pains. When she went to the heart doctors to get it checked out, they put her through a stress test which diagnosed Shelby with aortic valve stenosis. Aortic valve stenosis occurs when the heart's aortic valve narrows and when the aortic valve is obstructed, your heart needs to work harder to pump blood to your body. This was causing Shelbys heart rate to increase immensely even when she was doing little physical activity. If she continued playing sports with this condition, a heart attack was possible at any moment. Shelby just recently went down to Salt Lake for a cath lab to find out what the issue was and possibly a solution. The doctors figured out that the valve needed to be replaced with a bigger one to allow better flow. In order to do that, Shelby has to indure in her 6th open heart surgery in 16 years. This surgery is planned to be in 4-6 weeks.
Of course, with another surgery, comes more expenses. The Vanhemelryck family: Dean, Robyn, Kylee, Shelby and Carson have had the costs of 5 open heart surgeries already while also having an older daughter in college, Kylee, and a younger son in middle school, Carson. These funds that I am hoping to raise would go towards the expenses of Shelbys upcoming surgery, hotels, food, travel costs, etc. Anything would help this already very deserving family.
Shelby is one of the biggest inspirations you will ever meet. Even with the struggles her condition has put her through, she never fails to have a smile on her face and a fight in her heart. Along with Shelby, her family has been her biggest supporters and by her side every step of the way. They are all very deserving of the helpful funds.
No matter what the final total, I will be thankful for the support that family, friends and the community has put behind Shelby througout her entire fight.
I hope you find it in your heart to help out, thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Brittany Smith
Organizer
Helena, MT
Robyn Vanhemelryck
Beneficiary
