Shelecta Weldy

Shelecta “Shay” Needs Our Help!

Shelecta “Shay” Weldy, age 36, has been battling cardiomyopathy since 2008. After years of struggling with this condition, a heart transplant is her only hope for survival. She recently received an LVAD artificial heart pump as a gateway procedure. Shelecta is one of the kindest people you’d ever hope to meet. Now she needs our support as she prepares for transplantation.

Shelecta grew up in Peoria, IL and graduated from Woodruff High School. She attended Illinois Central College where she was part of a National Championship winning women’s basketball team. After transferring to Western Illinois University, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Law Enforcement Justice Administration. Shelecta has been employed as a youth counselor for the Children’s Home Association of Illinois for the past 12 years. She mentors troubled youth on probation as a deterrence to help them get their lives back on track instead of going to prison.

Shelecta is the proud parent of a 17-year-old son, a Richwoods High School honor student and member of the varsity football, wrestling, and track teams. She is also a proud parent of a highly intelligent 6-year-old princess. Being closely involved in their lives and activities is extremely important to her. This has been difficult due to her illness and hospitalizations. Shelecta looks forward to the day when she can again be active with her children and return to the work she loves.

As you can imagine, the cost of a transplant can be overwhelming and financially draining. Even with insurance, Shelecta is facing very high medically-related expenses including travel to and from Chicago. Shelecta and her family are committed to seeing her through this transplant. However, they face a challenge they cannot meet alone. This is where you can help.

To help with the financial burden of uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in Shelecta’s honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in the North-Central Heart Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

For credit card contributions, please click the yellow Donate Now button.

Keep an eye on Shelecta’s campaign page at www.helphopelive.org because we be planning some fundraising events soon and posting updates regularly. Thank you for your prayers, support, and generosity.

Shar‘Ron Ford
(309-224-8284)