Local Teen Fights Rare Heart Infection As Community Rallies Around Her Journey

MECHANICSVILLE, Md. – After 51 days in the hospital—including open-heart surgery, time on life support, and weeks in intensive care—19-year-old Teagan Whitsell is finally home. Her family’s front porch now displays a handmade banner that reads “WELCOME HOME TEAGAN!” filled with messages of love and encouragement.

But while the sign celebrates her return, the battle isn’t over.

“Teagan is finally home! We are so incredibly happy to have our girl home,” her mother, Kelli Whitsell, wrote in a June 24 update on GoFundMe. “It was a long 51 days that is for sure. Tomorrow starts a new journey.”

That journey began May 4, when Teagan collapsed at home and went into cardiac arrest. “I performed CPR while her father called 911,” Kelli wrote. “Thankfully, the paramedics arrived quickly.” She was flown to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where doctors discovered a severe heart infection that had spread to her lungs and blood. The infection caused damage to her tricuspid valve, requiring emergency open-heart surgery.

Teagan was placed on ECMO and received a pacemaker to support right-sided heart failure. For weeks, she endured repeated procedures, daily tests, and long days in the cardiovascular intensive care unit. “She hasn’t spent a single night (or day) alone,” Kelli said. “This has had a significant financial impact on our family.”

On June 26, just two days after Teagan came home, the family received crushing news.

“Due to Teagan’s need to be on TPN (a form of nutrition delivered through a central line) she will inevitably develop a new infection in her heart,” Kelli wrote. “When this happens, the doctors will not be able to save her. A timeframe of 6 months–2 years has been given.”

Now the family is focused on giving Teagan the time of her life. “She loves music and wants to see Taylor Swift & Noah Kahan. She also loves the Broadway show Hamilton,” Kelli said. “We want to make as many of these dreams come true for her.”

Friends and supporters are organizing a poker run fundraiser to help. The event takes place Saturday, July 26, starting and ending at Toot’s in Hollywood, Md., with kickstands up at 11 a.m. Stops include Apehangers, Seabreeze, and Stoney’s. All vehicles are welcome.

Entry is $20 per vehicle, plus $10 for each additional hand. Activities include a high hand prize of $100, low hand prize of $25, door prizes, music by Duncan Deejays, a ticket auction, and a 50/50 raffle. The event is rain or shine.

“We want to make every day of that time count as she has never been able to do things other teenagers do,” reads the flyer for the event. “We want her to at least enjoy her Bucket List.”

The GoFundMe campaign, organized by Kelli Whitsell, has raised $1,650 of its $8,000 goal. To donate or learn more, visit: gofundme.com/f/help-teagan-heal-after-openheart-surgery

For more information on the poker run, contact Leslie Morgan at 301-904-1915 or Desi Collins at 240-309-3953.

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