When Shellee Thompson started having chest pain nearly 30 years ago, she thought it was just anxiety from working a stressful job.
When the pain got worse, she started to get concerned and went to the ER in Twin Falls, Idaho, her hometown. After running a few tests on her heart, doctors diagnosed her with anxiety and prescribed anti-anxiety medication.
“I thought I was losing my mind,” Thompson said. “I knew that my heart physically hurt and that it wasn’t anxiety that was causing it.”
Searching for Answers After Years of Chest Pain
Between repeat ER visits, she did her best to ignore the pain, even as it got worse. Eventually, it was so bad that she couldn’t do the dishes without having to stop and catch her breath.
Many years after her chest pain started, her doctor finally took a closer look and discovered the cause: a small piece of cement was lodged in her heart—and had been for more than 20 years.
In 1996, Thompson had surgery to stabilize a compound fracture in her spine. At that time, the surgeon performed a vertebroplasty, injecting cement into her spine to help stabilize the fracture site and relieve her low back pain.
“No one knows how it happened, but some of the cement that was injected into my spine came loose,” Thompson said. “It had somehow made its way to my heart and got stuck there, causing the chest pain that lasted for years.”
After discovering the cement in Thompson’s heart, the care team in Twin Falls reached out to University of Utah Health to consult on the case.
Thompson was referred to Andrea M. Steely, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at University of Utah Health. Steely is part of the aortic disease program and performs cardiac surgery, specializing in aortic surgery.
A Complex Case
Thompson traveled to Utah for extensive testing to make sure she was healthy enough for the surgery—and make sure Steely could safely access and remove the piece of cement that was causing so many issues.
On January 3, 2025, Thompson had surgery at University of Utah Hospital to remove the cement, and she finally got relief from more than 20 years of chest pain.
“The cement was not only poking outside of her heart in a couple of different spots, but it had also damaged one of the heart valves,” Steely said. “I was able to repair that after removing the cement.”
From Thompson’s view, Steely saved her life.
“Dr. Steely gave me back my will to live. She really did,” Thompson said. “Before I met her, I was so depressed, and I had no quality of life. I didn’t feel like I wanted to live anymore, because I really felt like I was losing my head.”
Thompson spent a few days in the ICU after surgery, which is standard protocol for open-heart surgery. After leaving the ICU, she spent several more days in the hospital while her care team made sure she was ready to go home.
Thriving After 20 Years of Uncertainty
Now, nine months out from surgery, she is thriving. “I’m back at the gym doing 30 minutes on the bike and 30 minutes on the treadmill,” Thompson said. “My heart feels good, and I feel like I have my life back.”
Before surgery, Thompson had been sedentary because of how uncomfortable it was to move around with such intense chest pain. Now, she enjoys daily walks and multiple gym sessions every week. More than that, she is looking forward to growing old.
“I will be able to enjoy my later years instead of sitting on the couch and doing nothing,” she said. “I can go live.”
Thompson, now 61, has three kids and four grandkids. They live close by, and she is able to spend a lot of time with them. “My daughter is just amazed at how far I’ve come and how much I’m able to move and exercise now,” she said.
2025 was a big year for Thompson, as she recently had another procedure. In October, she had a nerve stimulator implanted to help ease her chronic back pain.
“It’s been a busy year,” she said.
She would do it all over again, though, just to get to where she is today—and to share her story with others.
“I’m sure there’s other people out there who have had vertebroplasties who might be living with similar issues to mine,” Thompson said. “Having the hope to know that somebody can help you or fix your problem is huge.”
Thompson’s heart is pain-free and full of love and gratitude for Steely and her willingness to help.
“She is a wonderful surgeon,” Thompson said. “I just hope the Lord blesses her socks right off.”
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