Transplant Too Late For Weakened Infant
Episcopal News Service. May 17, 1984 [84105]
OLYMPIA, Wash. (DPS, May 17) -- Shelley McConnell, the baby whose quest for a new liver had been supported by Episcopalians and others across the country, died on May 5 of kidney failure following successful transplant surgery.
Shelley's story first appeared in February in an article by editor Christine Dubois in the Olympia Churchman. It was picked up by the Diocesan Press Service and by many diocesan newspapers. At that point, Shelley was seven months old. Her family, having been told that she had biliary artesia and would not live past her first birthday without a liver transplant, had recently moved to North Carolina to be closer to relatives and medical facilities.
Despite its own lack of adequate finances, St. Benedict's Episcopal Church in Lacey, Wash., where Shelley's family had been members when her illness was diagnosed, set up a fund to give aid with her medical expenses. Vicar John Gibbs lobbied everyone from local VIP's to President Reagan and Presiding Bishop John M. Allin for help.
Although she was enrolled in two waiting lists for a liver, Shelley's condition was at first so good that children who were doing less well had priority. As her condition deteriorated she was moved up, but by the time the transplant occurred, Shelley's body could not withstand the strain. Her funeral was held in North Carolina, with a memorial service in Lacey.
Writing to the Presiding Bishop to thank him for his help and to inform him of Shelley's death, Gibbs said: "We have learned and gained much from this young child. We have seen the love, compassion, and generosity of dozens of congregations and hundreds of individuals... from as far away as Japan. People of the church have opened their hearts... and... have prayed for Shelley in such a way that the whole family has been comforted. We here in Lacey are grieving our loss but also are celebrating Shelley's new life. We are continuing to raise funds to help with the medical expenses and have established the Shelley McConnell Memorial Fund to help others in similar situations."
Donations may be sent in care of: St. Benedict's Episcopal Church, P. O. Box 3811, Lacey, WA 98503