Elizabeth Shockey
SHOCKEY, BETH 38 - of Egg Harbor Twp., passed away on February 17, 2013 after a courageous battle with heart disease. Beth was born on December 6, 1974 in San Jose, Mindoro, Philippines. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and her Master's degree in Education from Lyceum of the Philippines University in Manila. Beth was the Vice President of Shockey's Pure Water and was the immediate past President of the FAA Mainland Toastmasters, an organization very close to her heart. She also served as staff of the Lyceum of the Philippines University, Academic Coach to international students, and founding member of the Association of Peer Counselors in the Philippines. Prior to her coming to the United States, Beth was an avid peer counselor, mentor and guide. She had inspired many with her wisdom, enthusiasm, and leadership through lectures, trainings, and speeches. She is best known for her kindness and positive attitude. Her faith was her guiding light. Beth, her sister and three brothers had been orphaned when young. Beth and her husband had a dream to someday build an orphanage in the Philippines. She had a big spot in her heart for children and those in need. She was passionate about cooking and gardening, and served everyone with grace.
A Letter From Her Husband
"A defective St Jude heart valve took the life of my wife, Elizabeth Shockey on February 17th, 2013. The Gloucester, NJ County Medical Examiner at that time, Dr. Jerald Feigin, called me during her autopsy and told me that the St Jude Metal Mitral Heart Valve had “Disintegrated”. Yes, he used the word “Disintegrated”. He explained that the leaflets had exited the valve and lodged in her aortic tissue.
The St. Jude valve was installed at the University of Pennsylvania on August 5th, 2010. Model # 25MTJ-503 & Serial # 82469143. The implanting physician was Dr. Michael A Acker, who was at that time Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. This valve lasted 2.5 years, before its catastrophic failure. Dr. Feigin recommended that I should file a lawsuit against St Jude, to which I agreed. Dr. Feigin explained that he would need to remove all the associated organs along with the broken St Jude heart valve and detached parts. Dr. Feigin further explained they would need to be protected under chain of custody. I agreed and I pursued the lawsuit. After two years of searching, I could not retain a law firm willing to take this case. At two years, the statute of limitations ran out.
I called St Jude in St. Paul Minnesota, and was connected to a supervisor. I explained that if I could have sued St. Jude, I would have. I explained that I had “all” the related organs and broken heart valve and pieces. I asked if St Jude would be willing to donate to the “Hospicio de San Jose Orphanage in Manila, in Beth’s memory. This is the orphanage I donated to after taking Beth in her coffin back to the Philippines and burying her next to her mom, which was her wish, I visited this orphanage and filled a small truck with food and other necessities thanks to donations from our friends here in South Jersey.
Approximately 5 weeks later the same supervisor from St. Jude called me and asked me for my mailing address. I had no idea why. She explained that she had sent a box that had medical containers and a prepaid return postage label for me to send back the parts removed during Beth’s autopsy. But she explained it had come back undeliverable. I asked her where this box had been sent and she told me it was the address that used to be my business address. I explained that my business had closed. She then asked me for my current address and I told her I was never asked if I would send Beth’s parts. I then asked about the orphanage donation and she said NO.
St Jude tried to get Beth’s parts from me in an underhanded manner. First, their defective valve killed my wife, and then they tried to take advantage of me.
St. Jude Heart Valves' has no affiliation with Marlo Thomas and the St Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis Tennessee.
This website is a memorial to my dear wife Beth and what happened to her.
Everything I have written is 100% true and I stand by every word."
- Jerry Shockey
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