Healthcare and Living Expenses for Shannon

Shannon Caudill Arwood, beloved friend, mother of three and local Kindergarten teacher, is in desperate need of our community's prayer and financial support! Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2008, she has endured multiple relapses/exacerbations of her condition, often requiring hospitalization. Over the course of her disease, she has experienced numbness, tingling and weakness in all four limbs, resulting in weeks with the inability to use those limbs. She's suffered with multiple bouts of optic neuritis, losing vision for 8-10 weeks at a time. In 2013, she spent over 10 days in the hospital with debilitating vertigo, where MRI imaging showed multiple lesions on her brain and spinal cord. Shannon is currently hospitalized, fighting through her worst MS exacerbation, to date. Her team of neurologists have identified 3 new active lesions on her brain, brain stem and spine. Additionally, she has been diagnosed with a related condition called Transverse Myelitis. This has rendered her immobile, unless she has assistance. Recovery from Transverse Myelitis can take up to two years, while only a third of patients will make any recovery. While being hospitalized over the next few weeks, she is receiving a series of necessary plasma exchange therapies. The hope is that the plasma exchange will alleviate the symptoms of the Transverse Myelitis.

With that being said, here is why she needs our financial support: Shannon has no more sick leave days available, she is ineligible for short term disability and is currently hospitalized without pay. Her lack of sick leave days is a direct result of the issues surrounding her youngest daughter, Holly. Holly was born in 2017, diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Usher Syndrome. This condition is characterized by congenital deafness and progressive vision loss. Holly received cochlear implants at 11 months of age and Shannon has used her limited sick and personal leave days with sick children and traveling with Holly to appointments at Vanderbilt. Compounding this issue, is the fact that Shannon's husband recently lost his job and remains unemployed, at this time. Within the next two weeks, their family will no longer have any flow of income. Medical bills are mounting and they will be losing the children's insurance at the end of November. This could prove detrimental for Holly, due to the fact that she receives multiple services through Early Intervention, speech and physical therapy. 

For anyone who knows Shannon, you know that she has endured more than her fair share of hurdles, both personally and with her children. Through it all, she has remained one of the most kindhearted, loyal and dedicated people on this Earth. Shannon has spent the last 15+ years educating and loving the children in our community, while loving and providing for her own children at home. NOW is the time for us to give back! Collectively, we can help her through this dark time, relieve this financial burden and make sure their needs are met! Thank you in advance and please know that every dollar you share will go directly to their medical and living expenses.