Support Erin Sheehan's Family in Their Time of Need

Everyone around the world is watching the biggest sporting events on T.V., the Olympics. While this covers the athleticism of the best of the best it by no means covers the strength of our “everyday people”. Yesterday, the strongest Olympian I know passed away.

I have been one of Erin’s best friends for over 20 years and let me tell you Erin (Herrera) Sheehan has had a journey for the books that started 12 years ago. She went in to deliver a beautiful baby boy and within 3 days, her heart was only functioning at only 6%. It was at this time, her fight for her life began. She was placed on an LVAD machine until she secured a new heart via transplant . She was placed on a “shot glass” full of pills every single day in order to keep her body functioning, she was placed on dialysis to help her body filter all the medication that was keeping her alive but slowly damaging vital organs. Still she fought! She had new illness after new illness constantly. She fought Covid, 6 times. Pneumonia and strep throat and COPD and everything else over and over and over again. And she pushed through saying, Pneumonia tried again or Covid won’t take me. And this was only the physical fight.

Erin lost her mother unexpectedly 4 years ago, her biggest fighter and cheerleader, she lost the father of her children 4 months later, unexpectedly. And the unthinkable, less than a year ago, she lost her beautiful baby boy, unexpectedly. Even with all of this, she still fought for life. She fought for herself, she fought for her 2 other children Gabe (16) and Elizabeth (13). She fought for her husband, Matt. For her sisters, Roshelle and Raquel. She fought for her nieces and nephews. She fought for her family and friends. She fought more than anyone can imagine. And she tried to do all of this with a smile on her face and sparkle in her eye.

Towards the last few months, she lived in daily pain that caused her to break down and cry. Many times she would say, it hurts but what else can I do, I have to keep going. Sometimes, the body no matter how much the brain says so, cannot handle anymore. Erin left this morning with the legacy of an Olympian in fighting for life, that legacy is up to all of us who knew and loved her to keep alive now.

Erin couldn’t get any life insurance with her medical conditions and the family needs help ensuring our fighter is able to be in peace now. Erin’s children will need extra support and those supporting them will need extra support too during this time. I’m asking for any assistance to ease the burden for them. Please know any and everything is appreciated.