Montana Sweets Shop Owner is Back in Business Thanks to Intermountain Health St. James Hospital Heart & Cardiac Rehab Team
In Butte, Montana, Sheppard’s Candy is more than a sweet shop.
It is a place people return year after year for a familiar smile, a warm welcome, and the handcrafted treats that Ron and Mary Gallardo have made for decades.
So, when the doors unexpectedly closed last summer, the community knew something serious had happened.
Ron Gallardo had experienced a sudden and dangerous decline in his health.
It was discovered that his heart was failing because of a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, a rare condition where a small weak spot near the main artery of the heart begins to bulge. Over time it can strain the heart because blood isn’t flowing normally.
As Gallardo's condition worsened, caregivers at Intermountain Health St. James Hospital moved quickly.
Intermountain Health cardiologist Carlos Albrecht, MD, coordinated Gallardo's evaluation, ensured he received an immediate appointment in Missoula, and arranged urgent Life Flight transport for the open-heart procedure that saved his life.
“When they told us how rare it was, we realized how close we came,” Mary Gallardo said. “Everything happened so fast. It really was a Hail Mary.”
After 24 days in the hospital, Ron returned home, grateful but changed.
“I was in the worst shape of my adult life,” he said. “Taking a shower felt like running a marathon.”
The turning point came when he enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation at Intermountain Health St. James Hospital.
Intermountain Health cardiac rehab specialist Kristin Johnson remembers Gallardo's first day well.
“He walked in with a smile even though he was exhausted,” Johnson said. “He showed up ready to work, and we met him where he was.”
Cardiovascular rehabilitation is designed for people recovering from heart surgery or heart failure.
The program includes 36 monitored sessions tailored to each patient’s health and goals. Participants rebuild strength under continuous heart monitoring, learn how to safely increase activity, and gain confidence in what their bodies can do again.
“A lot of people come in scared, and understandably so,” Johnson said. “Our job is to help them take that fear and turn it into strength.”
For Gallardo, that reassurance mattered.
“The fear of overdoing it is real,” he said. “Having that monitor and a team who knows your limits gives you confidence to keep going.”
The Intermountain Health St. James Hospital cardiac rehab team focuses on progress, not perfection.
“We are not training for a marathon,” Johnson said. “We are training for everyday life. Things like walking up the stairs, carrying groceries, or opening the candy shop again. We celebrate every step.”
Across weeks of steady work, Ron felt his strength return. He moved from short walks to longer routes. He traded fear for confidence. Mary walked beside him every day, encouraging each mile, no matter how small.
Eventually, the kettles at Shepard’s Candy started stirring again.
“After the surgery, I could not walk to the end of the house,” he said. “Yesterday, six months later, we walked almost two miles.”
Mary Gallardo called the transformation nothing short of miraculous.
“It is amazing what the human body can do and having the right team can help you do,” she said.
Today, Ron is back in the kitchen lifting, mixing and creating the sweets generations of Butte families love. The doors to Shepard’s Candy are open again, and customers once more walk into the smell of caramel, chocolate, and nougat.
“To be able to come back to the store, that is the ultimate success,” Ron said.
Today, the Gallardos are back to doing what they love, together, thanks to the trusted support of the heart team at Intermountain St. James Hospital.
“If you have questions about your heart health, talk with your primary care provider and make sure you know your numbers,” said Johnson. “Small steps today can make a big difference tomorrow.”
To schedule an appointment with your primary care provider, contact Intermountain St. James Hospital at 406-723-2500.