Hairdresser Emergency Surgery

My name is Shannon Hogle. I am a 48 year old mother of two children, Colby 21 and Chloe 16. I am self employed and have my own salon suite as I have done hair for nearly 30 years now. I started out working for my parents, as they were both hairdresser/barbers when I was 19 years old. I had the pleasure of learning the trade under the 2 people in this world who love me the most, my parents. We ran a shop together for many years until they decided fully to retire around 4 years ago. I kept our family shop open through COVID, but when the place we leased our space from was requiring us to move, (we had already done this in 2014 to the tune of nearly 100,000), the uncertainty of COVID and finding experienced employees, I made the decision to close the family business ( a business that had been in business 51 years), and start over in a salon suite nearby. Our business never did get approved for any COVID PPP money, the reason was we did not have any debt; my Father never ran our business on credit like most are today and neither would I. I was scared to change to a salon suite, but in doing so, with lots of prayer, I became more successful than I ever imagined. I am a giver, a lover, I care for others and forgive to a fault. I'm very independent and being a single mother, sometimes it brings on super powers. I worked hard to continue to get my business to grow, I stayed late, I came in early.

Things were great until around Thanksgiving of 2022. I was working through a normal stressful holiday season, I quietly began to fall ill with an infection that did not show it's ugly head until the week of December 12. I went to emergency that week thinking I had the flu. After some time, the doctors and medical professionals realized I had an infection that could easily kill me within hours. I was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis.

First, I want to clear up the notion of where my necrotizing fasciitis came from; it was an infection that the doctor's believe had been going on since around Thanksgiving. Now this is normally something that is caused by a bacteria Strep A that is the same as what causes strep throat. It lives around us daily and healthy people can handle it most of the time. What happened to me was at or around Thanksgiving, they believe that a slow growing bacteria crossed over into my soft tissue. I lived with that infection and it was making me sick, but not at a fast rate. Those were the symptoms felt that were maybe menopause or stress as it is the most stressful time of year for me. Somehow weeks later, my body was run down enough and my immune system about shot from fighting the infection I had for so long, Strep A came in and it was like a match on dry kindling. I then started feeling the infection like an abscess would feel. That was the week I went in. By that time, the two bacteria together had eaten much flesh and nearly killed me.

The night in emergency, I literally knew I was dying. The infection had clouded my brain to the point I just didn't care anymore. I just wanted to go home and die. Anyone who really knows me, knows that this IS NOT like me. My heart rate was 124 at rest, I couldn't breathe, my blood pressure had dropped to 57/36. My heart was going into failure as were my kidneys; my abdomen hurt so bad. I was so fortunate that I did not tip into shock as the necrotizing fasciitis already has a high rate of death alone. I know that God's hands were in all of this as was fortunate to get some of the best team of doctors around and that all the medical professionals and emt staff that night knew exactly what to do to save my life. I have a renewed respect for these people as we all have been working hard post COVID... the people that are left really have the passion to keep going and it is very clear they were meant to care for others.

I am humbly asking for help with my household, medical and business expenses while my shop is closed and I am unable to work. I certainly cannot wait to get back to my hair business and my life taking care of my household. Unfortunately, I did not have insurance to cover this emergency.

At this point, I do know I will be off at least a month even if I progress perfectly. And I can't say it won't be longer, as a wound as deep and large as I have will take months to heal even without a reinfection.

I have a very long road ahead of me, but I do feel a renewed view on the true Blessings that have been poured upon me and my little family. Not only will I use this time for healing, and enjoying the little things...but it will also be a time for strength and growth. We are not promised a moment longer than the one we are living in now. Have no regrets on where you spend your time...love the people who love you back.