Vulhop remains in critical condition following lung problems

Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 17, 2005

COLUMBUS - A week after undergoing a double-lung and heart transplant, Michelle "Shelly" Vulhop, of Ironton remains in critical condition at Ohio State University Medical Center's Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital.  

Vulhop's aunt, Lana Miller said her vital statistics have improved a little. Since her initial surgery, Vulhop was treated for a problem with one lung.

"They had to take her into surgery. One of her lungs turned, they said, and they had to go in and turn it and it reinflated itself. But right now, she's holding her own."

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Miller said the family continues to pray for Vulhop's recovery, and hopes their friends will continue to remember her in prayer as well. "That's all we can do at a time like this is keep praying," Miller said.

Last week, Vulhop, 33, became the first person in central Ohio to undergo the rare surgical procedure. She had suffered since birth from a congenital heart defect known as double outlet right ventricle, which caused her to develop severe pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure.

She had been been on a waiting list for an organ transplant for six years and had been at the top of that list the last two years.