Hello. Our names are Jillian Schroeder and Joane Mase and we’re starting this GoFundMe for our dearest friend Shannon Sawin(only 44) who is battling a very rare cancer, Dedifferentiaed liposarcoma.

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) is a rare and aggressive type of liposarcoma, characterized by the presence of both a well-differentiated liposarcoma component and a high-grade, non-lipogenic sarcoma component. It often arises in the retroperitoneum or extremities of middle-aged and older adults. It's considered a high-grade sarcoma, meaning it's more likely to recur locally and potentially metastasize (spread to other parts of the body) compared to well-differentiated liposarcoma. It is a rare cancer, with an estimated incidence of 0.21 cases per 100,000 person-years. In the United States, this translates to less than 2,500 new cases per year.

Shannon is more than this monster. She is a daughter, a niece, a sister, a granddaughter, a wife, a friend and most of all, a mother. She is the greatest mom to 4 amazing boys. Ages 22, 22, 21, 13. She recently finished her bachelor’s degree in general studies and waiting to start her transition to teach program after her chemo treatments. She loves everyone’s children as her own and will make the best teacher.

Along side Shannon as she fights, is her husband Trever, who has held her hand every step of the way! If you can please keep Shannon, her husband, their boys, and all the family stepping in to help care for her in your thoughts and prayers, that would be amazing.

I know many say this but Shannon IS someone who lights up a room when she enters. She has this beautiful, infectious smile and big hazel eyes that pull anyone in. She has never met a stranger and would give the shirt off her back to anyone. She loves to crochet, spend time with her best friend Jo along with other friends, read, lounge in the pool, play with her 3 dogs, and staying connected with family and friends and drinking Dr Pepper while she rewatches FRIENDS for the 800th time.

Many may be wondering how her cancer was found. These are her words….

…’April 8th Aaron(her youngest son) and I got into a car accident on our way to school. We immediately knew I had a pretty severe broken wrist. While in the ER, they sent me for full body scans to check for any internal damage or bleeding. What they found was a 15cm growth on my right ovary (so we thought). On June 2nd I went in for surgery to have this removed. When the surgeon went in to remove it, she discovered it was no longer only 15cm, but 25cm!! It had almost doubled in just shy of two months. It also wasn’t on my ovary but in my abdomen. This mass got sent out to pathology and we got the results back last week(June). I have been diagnosed with a rare soft tissue cancer, dedifferentiated liposarcoma. My family and I are still processing it all but are staying hopeful. Since I am only 2 weeks out of surgery, my oncologist is waiting to do my PET scan until July 23rd. The results from that will let us know if/when chemotherapy needs to be started or if I only need to be monitored closely.

I know I’m tough and I can do and take a lot of things, but this is scary and completely uncharted territory. If you could all just surround me, the doctors, and my family in prayers while we navigate this journey, I/we would be so appreciative!!

In June 20th I shared with you all that I have been diagnosed with Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma. I met with my oncologist this past Wednesday to get PET scan results and go over treatment plans. Due to the aggressiveness of this particular cancer, we have to attack it more aggressive than the cancer is. So on Wednesday 08/06, I will be starting my chemo plan. This will be an intense 5 day inpatient stay to be done every three weeks through Christmas.’

This chemo is very aggressive. Shannon cannot be around plants or flowers so please don’t send or give any. She worked in a middle school she loved. Her husband is a Jail Commander in LaGrange County Jail here in Indiana.

With Shannon not being able to work due to her chemotherapy due to the nature of her job. The drive back and forth from her home to the hospital is about a hour each way as well. She’s NEVER been someone to ask for a handout so this is where we, Joane and Jillian, are asking for help. Please help our dearest friend ease some of this burden that has fallen upon her. Thank you for taking the time to read.