Get Shelley Dancing Again!

If you ask someone to describe Shelley Halligan, here are some things you’ll hear: Brilliant. Generous. Hilarious. Powerful. Energetic. Compassionate. Positive. Optimistic. Visionary. Direct. Determined.

Shelley is a force of nature. A passionate and dedicated nurse for the past 18 years, Shelley has used her considerable talent and energy to help folks suffering from the disease of addiction find lasting recovery. In my book, I wrote about a coworker who could - during one of the darkest times of my life - see that I was not okay. That was Shelley. She came into my office, sat down, and asked me what I needed. What I needed was to be seen, and Shelley saw me. I’ve had so many people tell me they wish they had a friend like that. We all need a friend like Shelley.

Then there was the time when, on her way to a gala, Shelley came upon a terrible motorcycle accident and jumped from the car in her ballgown to give first aid to the seriously injured rider. Because she is a total badass.

Those stories are not unique. I can think of a hundred people without even trying who could tell you similar tales about Shelley. Shelley doesn’t offer help. Shelley is help.

Recently, I got a call from Shelley’s phone, and answered, “Hey love!” and heard a voice that sounded like Shelley - same twang, same energy- but it wasn’t Shelley. It was Shelley’s sister. She was calling to tell me that Shelley had suffered a life-threatening fall which resulted in catastrophic injuries to both ankles and feet, and one of her arms. It is, quite frankly, a miracle she’s alive.

She told me Shelley would need multiple surgeries, it would be months and months of round-the-clock care and physical therapy - and even then, there was a chance she wouldn’t walk again.

That’s… unimaginable.

The last time I was with Shelley in person, we’d rented a beach house for a girlfriend getaway. Late in the afternoon, as the sun was turning the gentle swells crimson, Shelley turned on some Motown and started dancing around the living room. Shelley’s got moves. She was smiling and singing and looked like she had a secret light source inside. She was a human candle. Shelley isn’t the life of the party - she is the party. We all just sat there, watching her shine.

The first time I spoke with Shelley after the accident, true to form, she asked me how I was doing. She worried about friends worrying. We cried and laughed. She told me how scared she was that she wouldn’t walk again. I told her that not only will she walk again. She’ll dance. Write it down, lock it up, take it to the bank. Shelley will dance again.

Shelley has months and months of medical care, surgeries, physical therapy, and home health care ahead of her, and insurance will not cover nearly enough of it. We’re trying to raise $50K to help offset the major expenses that will be a part of her healing process. Please consider giving what you can. We’re asking for help for Shelley because she’d be the very first person to help any of us if we needed it.

I know she’ll defy the odds. She's done it all her life. I predict her doctors will marvel that no one has ever worked harder to heal. I know it’s going to take a long time, and it’s going to be really, really hard. I also know for sure that Shelley will take the experience and use it to help others. It’s just what she does.

And I know, as surely as I know anything, she will dance again.