Support Shannon's Fight Against Cancer

Hi everyone,

My name is Shannon, and at 43, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This came as a shock, as no one in my family had ever been diagnosed with breast cancer before. It all started with a routine mammogram where a suspicious spot appeared. Despite reassurances from everyone that it was probably nothing, further tests revealed it was indeed cancer.

As my world crumbled, my husband reassured me that we could get through this, just as we had overcome so many challenges before. I was scheduled for a lumpectomy, but genetic tests revealed I was BRCA2 positive, meaning I had a higher risk for several cancers. This led to a bilateral mastectomy instead of just a lumpectomy, as my tumor was also grade 3 and very fast-growing.

During my treatment, I had expanders placed under the muscle to prepare for future implants. However, complications arose when the expanders ripped away from my chest wall. I had to endure six months of grueling chemotherapy, during which my husband was my rock, taking care of me and our household, including my mother who has dementia.

In January, I started chemo, which lasted for six months. The hardest part was seeing my mom, who would repeatedly ask what happened to my hair because of her dementia. Despite my husband’s efforts to balance work and care for us, he was ultimately fired from his job of 16 years due to his absences, even though he had filled out FMLA paperwork and saved his vacation and sick time.

Since then, we have been living off our savings, which are now nearly depleted. I have undergone reconstruction, but complications like infections and hospitalizations have prolonged my recovery. My husband has been tirelessly taking care of me throughout this ordeal.

I still have more surgeries to undergo, but for now, the doctors want me to heal. Asking for help is incredibly hard for me, but I am left with no other choice. I never imagined his employer would be so heartless towards someone so dedicated to their job.

Please consider donating to my GoFundMe to support us during this challenging time. Even sharing my story or sending positive energy our way is deeply appreciated.

Thank you for your kindness and support.