Michelle Lee Keogh

Our beautiful, daughter, mother, sister, and aunt Michelle Keogh (33) was taken to Heaven on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13th, 2012. Michelle is survived by her Father and Mother, Christopher and Patricia Keogh, her amazing children, Christopher (13), Savanna (11) and Kaylee (5), her brothers Geoff Keogh and John Keogh, and her beautiful sister Elizabeth Keogh.

Michelle worked with her family running a successful environmental company, which developed many technologies used by the U.S. Military to clean and recycled polluted waste water into clean clear re-usable water. She ran the office for many years.

About seven years ago, while pregnant with her youngest Kaylee, Michelle suffered a heart attack resulting from a serious heart infection. In typical Michelle fashion, she chose every treatment option available that would not harm Kaylee. She ended up in the hospital for months in order for Kaylee to develop and arrive healthy. Just after Kaylee was born, Michelle underwent corrective heart surgery to repair the damaged valve from the heart attack. Shortly after the valve replacement, she required yet another surgery to replace that valve again. After that, Michelle got straight back to work being one of the best mothers there could be. Juggling work and the kids, she worked hard to become healthy and raise her wonderful children.

A year or so later, after trying many options, she was placed on the heart transplant list at USC Medical Center and, a few months later, she was blessed with a heart from a donor. After recovering again, Michelle went right back to doing what she loved most, raising her kids. She spent her time attending as much baseball, dance, and other activities her kids loved. She was always involved in their lives.

Eighteen months later, Michelle was faced with another trial. She battled a severe rejection of her transplanted heart and went through another valve repair at USC. After healing, Michelle's final battle started. The transplanted heart was not performing well and she started to suffer through many different conditions associated with a failing heart.

Through all this, she continued to be a blessing to all of us. She could not work near as much, but as long as she could get up, she was doing something for someone. She continued to maintain her home for her kids always doing the activities they love, schoolwork, and just playing with them. Beside that busy schedule, she had an array of wonderful friends from so many different walks of life that she helped or received help from. When we could, we spent time together as a family watching our kids play and just catching up.

Just a few months ago, she took on another noble task helping her father Chris sponsor and organize the First Semper Fi Golf Tournament in Vista, CA. The tournament is solely focused on raising money for the Semper Fi Fund which provides assistance to wounded Marines and Sailors and their families. With Michelle's loving heart for others she and Chris, along with the committee, have raised as of 5/16/2012 $120,000 for the Semper Fi Fund. The tournament will be held on June 4th, 2012 at Shadowridge Country Club, in Vista, CA.

Just as recently as a week ago, Michelle was attending a meeting with the tournament board continuing to do what she did best, blessing others and helping place the final touches on the event. On the evening of May 12th, she was admitted again into the hospital. Early on Mother's Day, she took an unexpected critical turn and was called to Heaven around noon.

Michelle was always known as the most kind hearted, loving woman of all. In her passing her loving spirit has spread to and through so many people. We as her family, who knew and loved her so much, are truly just beginning to see the fruits of her life and the love and hope she gave to so many.

Michelle's family would like to give our eternal gratitude to Dr. Mark Barr and Felicia, his wife and transplant coordinator, for giving us the last three years with Michelle. Our gratitude does not stop there, we thank the countless medical professionals that have laid their healing hands on her before and after the transplant, and finally the wonderful doctors and nurses who, along with Dr. Barr, fought with everything they had to keep her with us.

Lastly, to all her friends, the ones we know and the ones we never had the pleasure of meeting who quietly in the background loved her in so many ways, we thank you all.

We love you Mick.