My name is Marissa Stalter and I was asked by my sister-in-law Shelby Langlois to set up this fundraiser on behalf of my niece Gracie Langlois and brother-in-law Keith Langlois as they both undergo open heart surgery in the new year.

Keith has rheumatic heart disease stemming from high fever as a baby which damaged valves in his heart. He found out about this after becoming severely ill at age 20. After lots of testing and many doctor visits, he learned he would need open heart surgery to correct this issue. He had his mitral and triscuspid valves repaired. Since then, he has had issues with going into atrial fibrillation. He had back to back cardioversion and finally an ablation in April of 2022 to correct his heart rhythm.

In October of 2025 at a routine visit, Keith found out his mitral valve has calcified to the point of needing intervention. Keith will be undergoing heart surgery at the University of Michigan in February.

Keith is the sole provider for the family as his wife Shelby is a stay at home mom to their two children, Gracie (6) and Lillian (3). Taking weeks off at a time to undergo surgery and recover from surgery will have a big impact on their financial stability, between paying for doctor visits and the procedure itself, travel costs, and lost income while Keith is unable to work.

The family is also preparing for their oldest daughter, Gracie, to undergo open heart surgery as early as this year due to her congenital heart defects. She has subaortic stenosis which is blocking adequate blood flow within her heart and left untreated could damage her valves and vastly lower her quality of life. Her subaortic stenosis gradient is currently at a 47, and open heart surgery is considered between 50-60. Her congenital heart issues are completely unrelated to Keith’s environmental ones.

Money raised will go towards paying for the procedures in addition to funding living expenses while Keith is recovering at home and unable to work.