Michelle &#8220Shelly” Vulhop was more than an optimist; she had the ability to see the bright side of things even amongst the darkest of shadows.

Ask her if the glass was half-empty or half-full and she would always say that it was half-full, filled with the sweetest tasting nectar in this world. The 34-year-old Ironton woman who died last week maintained that type of optimism throughout her short life, despite being ill more often than she was well.

Vulhop had a complex congenital heart defect known as double outlet right ventricle, and developed severe pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure. That is doctor-speak that translates to her heart and lungs were failing her.

She underwent a history-making double lung and heart transplant earlier this year. The procedure was the first of its kind in central Ohio and one of less than 75 performed across the world each year.

The young woman waited for six years but never gave out hope that her time would come. After battling numerous ups and downs before and after the surgery, Vulhop was released from the hospital to come home to Ironton in July. Unfortunately, her long struggle ended last week, with her tiny body unable to fight any longer.

Some pessimists may look at this as a failure for the medical community because Vulhop did not live a long life after the procedure. We choose to believe that it couldn't have been more successful because Vulhop's life and her impact on others should be measured on quality, not quantity.

This should be the motivation to continue to invest time and money into medical research so that others such as Vulhop who need vital organs can one day know they will not only make the list but go on to live long, happy lives.

Each hour and each day Vulhop lived after the surgery were stolen moments that she would never have been afforded otherwise. How could anyone say that it was not worth it? For Shelly, it had to have been.

And though God may have decided now was time for Vulhop to leave this earth, her legacy should be one of determination and perseverance. Her small frame contained a boundless spirit that greatly exceeded men and women of far larger stature.

Despite being born with what doctor's called a disorder, Vulhop showed that the true measure of her heart was not deficient at all. In fact, it was far stronger than most.