'Just Keep Swimming': Chelsea Wheeler, 14, Dies After Courageous Health Battle, Inspires Countless Others

OXFORD, CT - Chelsea Wheeler, 14, of Oxford passed away Friday, July 21, after inspiring many to live in spite of life's setbacks. After experiencing health-related issues since birth, Wheeler leaves behind a community to grieve the loss of a very special girl who dreamed of becoming a chef despite not being able to consume a bite of food.

Wheeler passed away after a long illness, surrounded by her family and the caregivers at The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. According to her obituary from Spadaccino and Leo P. Gallagher & Son Community Funeral Home, she touched the lives of all of them. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Wheeler was diagnosed in 2011 with intestinal pseudo obstruction, a condition that caused her body to go into irreversible intestinal failure because they could not contract and push food through the gastrointestinal tract.

She was TPN dependent because of this, meaning she relied on a an intravenous system that connected to one of six main veins in her body and provided her with nourishment for 16 hours a day. This system was contained in a backpack Wheeler would wear.

See also: Oxford Girl, 12, Continues to Fight Despite Transplant Setback

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In September 2015, Wheeler was forced to undergo a life-saving small bowel transplant. Unfortunately her body rejected it, and she was placed on medication in an effort to reverse the rejection.

Though she faced obstacles throughout most of her life, Wheeler never seemed to let them define her. Her motto was "go big or go home," according to her obituary.

CNN reported in 2013 that Wheeler had said she aspired to cook and open a diner. Despite the fact she could not taste the food she made, she nonetheless approached cooking with passion and professionalism.

She also spent much of her free time watching the Food Network and searching for new recipes, according to CNN.

Wheeler was always unabashedly herself, showcased in her "outrageous" socks and clothing that was typically colorful and sparkly. She loved all things purple and wore the color proudly, according to her obituary.

Wheeler also loved her two animals, playing pranks, Harry Potter and the Pixar film "Finding Dory." She connected in particular with Dory, taking from the animated fish lessons of using your strengths, loving who you are and to "just keep swimming" no matter what life throws at you.

She did indeed keep swimming all these years, coming up with "a million ideas" and executing many of them. According to her obituary, she started her own company, wrote a book and designed a website among other accomplishments.

Much like Dory, she also loved her family. According to her obituary, Wheeler leaves behind a dad who was her "best buddy" and a mom who never left her side.

She also leaves behind two brothers, two sisters, her four grandparents, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins and a community of people she has inspired to live life with a passion and just keep swimming the whole way through.

Read Chelsea Wheeler's full obituary here.

Patch file photo