Family whose son survived open heart surgey as an infant raises money for heart walk

PUXICO, Mo. -- The Shepherd family of Puxico, knows what it's like to be on the receiving end of the kindness of others.

Keith and Melissa Shepherd's youngest child, Will, was born three years ago with a congenital heart defect. At 10 days old, he underwent open heart surgery at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis. During his recovery, his parents, brother and two sisters stayed at the Ronald McDonald House and received meals prepared by charitable organizations.

"We had people coming in from all walks of life giving their time and giving things to us, even to our other children who weren't sick," Melissa Shepherd said.

Shepherd said Will is now pretty much a normal child. His prognosis is good, and he sees a cardiologist once a year.

"He's active and acts like any other 3-year-old, but I have noticed when it comes to medical procedures he's pretty laid back and just lets it happen," she said.

"I don't know if being around hospitals when he was younger had anything to do with that, but it's a phenomenon to this mom."

Shepherd said the time Will spent in the hospital made the family want to give back to others who go through similar situations.

"A seed was planted in our hearts, and that seed was to be involved with charity," Shepherd said.

At the American Heart Association's Start! Heart Walk in 2010 in Cape Girardeau, the Shepherd family met Beth Walker, the organization's corporate events director. After a lunch meeting, Walker asked the Shepherds if they would put together a fundraising team for the 2011 event.

Will Shepherd at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center as an infant. (Submitted photo)

"We were so happy to do that," Melissa Shepherd said. "We knew from the get-go after all this with Will that we wanted to be involved with charity and were going to jump at any chance to."

The team is made of up family members and friends. The team's original goal was to raise $500 for the American Heart Association, but they have had to up that goal four times to $2,000, Shepherd said.

"We asked if they would help us fundraise, and it has basically just blown out the roof," she said. "They are amazing people."

Businesses in Puxico have helped by hanging posters with Will's story and picture and information about the walk, Shepherd said.

The American Heart Association's Start! Health Walk benefits the organization's promotions of heart health and research efforts for procedures which repair heart defects. According to statistics from the organization, cardiovascular diseases and strokes are the primary cause of death in Missouri and account for 34 percent of deaths in Cape Girardeau County.

Walker said the organization hopes to meet an attendance goal of 400 this year, up from 250 in 2010. There is a donation goal of $35,000.

The 2011 Start! Heart Walk will be Saturday inside West Park Mall. Registration begins at 8 a.m., opening ceremonies begin at 9, and the walk starts at 9:30. The event is free. To register early, call Walker at 618-983-3234 or visit www.capegirardeaucountyheartwalk.org. Participants can pick up team packets or individual collection envelopes at the Mississippi River Radio offices at 324 Broadway in Cape Girardeau.