Tennessee mother warns others after surviving multiple heart attacks
In the past year alone, Haley Shelnutt has suffered five heart attacks—most of them silent.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - One Tennessee mother is spreading awareness about heart health after surviving multiple heart attacks at 29.
Haley Shelnutt was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 12 years old but didn’t take it seriously. She assumed the worst complications—like kidney disease or blindness—wouldn’t happen until much later in life.
By 26, her health began to decline. She developed renal failure, started dialysis, and was soon diagnosed with heart disease.
In the past year alone, Shelnutt has suffered five heart attacks—most of them silent. She doesn’t feel them when they happen. Doctors only discovered them through blood tests showing dangerously high troponin levels, a key indicator of heart damage.
Dr. Kathryn Lindley with Vanderbilt University Medical Center says many people with diabetes and high blood pressure don’t realize they are at risk. These conditions can cause damage to the heart, brain, and kidneys before symptoms are noticed. Regular check-ups and screenings are crucial.
Shelnutt is now fighting to stay alive for her two children. She needs a kidney and pancreas transplant but must stay out of the hospital for six months to regain her spot on the transplant list.
Despite the challenges, she is hopeful. She believes God is working through her and is determined to stay as healthy as possible for her kids.
Her family has created a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses and support her children during this difficult time.
She hopes her story reminds others to take their health seriously—before it’s too late.
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