Let’s Help Shoana

Our dear Shoana Riccio, mother of Cheyenne, Dillan, Cameron and Fiona, is an excellent professional and friend very well known to a big part of our community in Front Royal. She’s been the mobile hairstylist for dozens of families in St. John’s parish for more than 20 years.

In the almost 13 years that I've personally known Shoana, she became an example to me of a hardworking lady, kind friend and most importantly, a courageous single mom. Shoana never leaves your side without making you feel that the old sentence “where there is a will, there is a way” is absolutely true.

In your charity say a prayer for her. She has had surgery this past Tuesday 11/28/2023. Our Lord is blessing her with the cross to face a diagnosis of Breast Cancer. She had a radical mastectomy and is currently facing a recovery period of eight weeks. This will be followed by another surgery around May 2024.

Her tumor is currently under biopsy, and we are waiting in God that the doctors were able to remove all the affected tissue and that there are no more ramifications. It’s unknown yet if she is going to need chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

At this moment she is in very good spirits because she is certain that “when I am weak, then I am strong” 2 Corinthians 12:10.

Now is the time for us who know Shoana to cover her with the Graces of solidarity and charity. She sustains herself and her minor daughter with her daily work. She is not going to be able to do it for a considerable time and as we know mortgage, utility bills, gas, groceries, and school related expenses do not wait. Being a self-employed person is a constant challenge and more so now in times of economic recession. I’m appealing to our community to help her to stay on her feet during this time of illness and tribulations and give her the necessary peace and calm while she recovers surrounded by the love of her parents, children and her adored new grandchild.

What a great opportunity during this penitential time of Advent to help our sister Shoana to carry her cross. What a personal privilege for me to organize this fraternal effort and to be the first to contribute to this fund. I know very well that some of us can give very little, others they can give more. But in the eyes of God if we give with generosity and an open heart, whatever we give becomes a fortune.

I will be updating this post with news about the progress in Shoana's treatment to let you know as much as I can.

On behalf of the family of Shoana I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the meal train organized by Terry Vyner. To see the zealousness of the people who care about her put a huge smile on Shoana's face. Thank you!