Shelli's Healing Journey

In April 2024, our dear friend Shelli Wheeler received the devastating diagnosis of Stage 4 throat cancer. She bravely faced an intense course of radiation and, by the end of the year, was declared cancer-free, a miracle for which we are beyond grateful.

But the journey didn’t end there.

Recovery from treatment has been long, painful, and far more complicated than anyone could have imagined. Shelli has undergone four throat stretching procedures to help her regain normal function. Tragically, during the last procedure, her throat was overstretched, resulting in a fistula ( a serious and extremely painful complication). In late April, Shelli was rushed to the ER, fearing for her life. There were nights she wasn’t sure she would make it, but by God’s grace, she pulled through.

As a result of the injury and complications, Shelli required a tracheotomy. She now cannot speak or eat, and while she has a feeding tube, keeping food down has been a challenge. She’s lost a significant amount of weight and spent nearly three months in the hospital.

We are incredibly thankful to say she is finally home, surrounded by the love of her family. However, she still faces a long road to healing… physically, emotionally, and financially.

To make matters even more difficult, in June, her husband Sean suffered a heart attack. Though he is now recovering and back at work, it’s been an incredibly heavy season for the Wheeler family.

Now that Shelli is home, they are facing significant medical expenses, including in-home care and a long-term recovery plan. We’re asking our community, near and far, to come together to lift some of this burden.

Every dollar, every prayer, every share makes a difference. Let’s rally around Shelli, Sean, and Sienna, so they can focus on healing and finding their way back to wholeness.