Life After Cancer

Hi my name is Bea and I am fundraising for Shelby and Oliver Betancourt.

Sharing Shelby’s story on a platform like this isn't always easy, I know that Shelby and Oliver would never ask anyone to help them, and I also know this will be the only way they can start their family now.

Shelby is 29 years old, a heart transplant recipient, and a two-time cancer survivor.

Having a family of her own has always been a dream of hers. We all knew for a while that it wouldn't be an easy task, and that she wouldn't be able to go the traditional route, because her life has been anything but.

A little bit about Shelby... When she was 10 years old, she was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy and ended up with end-stage heart failure. She needed a heart transplant to live.

Unfortunately, due to all the medications she takes on a daily basis to keep her heart healthy, she was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer 9 years later when she was 19 years old. The cancer diagnosis came suddenly, and she started chemotherapy without having the time to freeze any eggs. She went through chemo and was in remission for 6 years until her nightmare resurfaced. Unfortunately, after chemo, she began having hot flashes, like an older woman going through menopause. She was told her chemotherapy had destroyed her eggs, leaving her in ovarian insufficiency, and she would never be able to have her own children.

Fast forward 6 years later to when she was 25 years old, after having just celebrated 6 years cancer free, she had severe stomach pain that ended up being the beginning of her 2nd cancer diagnosis, Plasmablastic Lymphoma (a type of Diffuse Large B Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma). She had to have emergency abdominal surgery, and afterward, she underwent many more cycles of chemotherapy in the hospital.

I'm so happy to say she beat cancer AGAIN!! And she got married to the love of her life and biggest cheerleader and supporter, Oliver.

Now they would love to have a family of their own. Due to her ovarian insufficiency due to chemotherapy and her history of a heart transplant, she will need an egg donation, IVF, and surrogacy to make this dream a reality. Having a family is not affordable at this moment and is far out of their reach, especially with the little-to-none their health insurance is providing. This is why I am reaching out to all of you, we all want to make their wishes a reality, but they need our help. I know it takes a village, so please If you, or friends and family are able... any little bit helps. Shelby is always so grateful and humbled for everything everyone around her has helped with thus far in her life, it never goes unnoticed <3. Thank you again for supporting my daughter Shelby and her husband Oliver.