Shelby Churey, daughter of Joe, 29, and Michelle Churey, 31, of Boynton Beach, already had modeling agencies seeking her out.
A little girl who loves Mickey and Minnie Mouse, her stuffed animals and rabbits, fingerpainting and riding a four-wheeler outdoors, Shelby is the Churey's only child and their pride and joy.
Last month her pretty face was mauled by a relative's pit bull.
The dog has since been euthanized.
"My father-in-law was holding her and Shelby was holding the dog's toy. We think the dog was trying to get his toy, but he attacked Shelby," Joe Churey said. "Her face and eyes were badly scratched and he took a chunk of skin from her cheek."
Shelby was rushed to JFK Medical Center and then to St. Mary's Medical Center where she stayed for 10 days and underwent a number of surgeries. She received many stitches in her face and surgery to repair the tear ducts in both eyes. Luckily, her eyesight is not permanently damaged, but she will need additional laser surgeries to minimize scarring to her face.
"Shelby needs one more laser surgery and possibly a skin graft. Because the insurance companies consider it cosmetic surgery, they do not want to cover the procedure," said Michelle Churey, a paramedic and nursing student at Palm Beach State College.
When she was notified of the accident Churey said, "I totally freaked out and went into shock.
Because of my training as a paramedic and nurse, I didn't get emotional. You have to be strong for your child. I felt like I was in a dream, that I would wake up and she'd have only a little scratch on her face."
"When I got to the hospital, it began to sink in. I'm a religious person. I was staring at her face and thinking how can God let something like this happen to my little princess?"
On Saturday, family and friends will have a fundraiser to help defray the medical costs of Shelby's surgeries.
Her uncle, Benny Townend, owner of Benny's Boynton Grill, will sponsor the family day event with activities, including a bounce house, barbecue, family portraits, a DJ, raffle and snow trucked in for the children.
"The community has been great and supportive and everyone is rallying around the Chureys, offering help and support," he said.
Shelby's prognosis is good, although her mother said she is left with a residual fear of dogs and of anyone wearing scrubs.
"When I try to put cream on her face she winces, 'it hurts too bad.' Shelby looks at herself in the mirror all the time and jokes, 'this is my monster face, this is my princess face.'"
How you can help
An account has been created for Shelby Churey at any Bank of America branch.
Benefit at Benny's Boynton Grill, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 9803 S. Military Trail, Boynton Beach.
In January, Lake Clarke Beauty Salon, 1777 Florida Mango Road, will have Haircuts for Shelby. Call Kimberly Henderson at 561-967-3161.
(Sun Sentinel - Dec 29, 2012)
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