SIX MILE — Six Mile resident Howard Shanley felt like something was wrong when he told his wife, Debbie, that he thought he needed to go to the hospital, but he never dreamed it would have resulted in a heart operation that needed six bypasses to keep him alive.

Shanley is only 54 years old ,and he was the victim of a heart attack on July 12. First, doctors told him he needed a heart catheterization. Once inside, the procedure failed. Without any other option, doctors decided he needed open-heart surgery to save his life. The surgery included six bypasses.

According to the Mayo Clinic, coronary bypass surgery is a surgical procedure that diverts the flow of blood around a section of a blocked or partially blocked artery in a person’s heart. By creating a new pathway to the heart, coronary bypass surgery improves blood flow to the heart muscle.

During coronary bypass surgery, a healthy blood vessel is taken from the patient’s leg, arm or chest and connected to the other arteries in their heart so that blood bypasses the diseased or blocked area.

After coronary bypass surgery, symptoms — such as chest pain and shortness of breath due to poor blood flow to the heart — generally improve. For some people, coronary bypass surgery may improve heart function and reduce the risk of dying of heart disease.

After two weeks in two different hospitals, Shanley finally made it to a rehab facility on Aug. 2. As a result of his medical condition, he will be out of work for at least six months, if not longer, as he recovers.

A special benefit fundraiser has been announced to help Shanley and his family during this trying time. The event will be held at the Six Mile Community Building, located at 106 S. Main St. in Six Mile, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 15. There will be a yard sale and hot dog sale to raise money.

Hot dog plates, which include two hot dogs, baked beans, chips and a can drink, will be $5 and available starting at 11 a.m. There will be lots of homemade goodies on hand for sale.

Those who can’t attend, bit would like to help Shanley and his family, a GoFundMe page has been set up and can be found at gofundme.com/howard-shanley-fundraiser. All donations would be greatly appreciated.

For more information, call Barbara Davis at (706) 961-9756 or Michelle Shanley at (864) 508-0926.