Support Shannon, as She Conquers Cancer

If you’ve ever met my sister, you know—she’s unforgettable. Her smile is the kind that lights up every room she walks into—radiant, warm, and deeply genuine. She has a rare gift for making people feel safe and seen, just by being herself. And at the core of everything she does is an unshakable devotion to her two kids. She shows up for them with every fiber of her being.

This past March, she began feeling discomfort in her abdomen. She brushed it off, assuming it was stress. After all, she was finishing her Masters in Teaching, working full-time, and raising two teenagers with special needs—all on her own.

In May, she made the decision to leave her job and take the summer off—to be present with her kids before starting her dream job in August. She had saved enough to make it through the summer, and for the first time in a long time, things felt like they were falling into place.

But the pain got worse. It spread and deepened, bringing with it other symptoms that couldn’t be ignored. In June, she finally went to the doctor. After a whirlwind of tests, scans, and a colonoscopy, the results came back: gastric signet ring cell adenocarcinoma—a rare form of stomach cancer.

We’re devastated. After everything she’s poured into building a stable, loving life for her family, this diagnosis has hit us like a tidal wave. Right now, we don’t know what stage the cancer is in—she’s fighting with insurance to get the PET scan that will determine her treatment plan.

As she begins the long and difficult journey through treatment, she will be unable to work for the next 6 months to a year. She is the sole provider for herself and her two teenage children, and the financial burden of this illness is overwhelming. Without an income, every basic necessity—rent, groceries, transportation to appointments, utilities—becomes a heavy and urgent concern.

We’re taking things day by day, staying rooted in hope and in the deep love we have for this extraordinary woman who deserves the chance to live the beautiful life she’s built with such determination.

And so, I’m reaching out—to you, to our community, to anyone who’s ever known the power of showing up for someone in need. I’m asking for help so that my sister can receive the care she so urgently needs—the care that could save her life. The care that could ensure she’s there to see her kids graduate high school, and hopefully so much more.

We know these are uncertain times, and not everyone is in a place to give. But every single contribution, no matter the size, helps. I believe in the power of The Many—in what we can do when we come together in hope.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you