Help Shannon Stand Strong and Serve Others

I’m Shannon. At 11, my spine twisted into a rare double-S rotoscoliosis. Since then, I’ve spent years in recovery—paralyzed twice, buried in six-figure debt from relentless surgeries—and yet, every morning I lace up my shoes and head out to serve my community. Today, I need your help to stay on my feet so I can keep lifting others.

My Story: Years Stolen, Yet a Heart Unbroken

I’ve never let my body define me—yet it’s cost me years of my life. Five major spinal fusions, each one a brutal promise of relief that dissolved into fresh pain and new complications. Twice, the lights went out and I woke to find myself paralyzed from the waist down. Months of therapy turned into years of relearning to walk, to stand, to live without surrendering my purpose.

• Rotoscoliosis isn’t just scoliosis: my spine bends in two opposing curves and twists on its axis, a rare deformity so complex that the simplest movements felt like torture.

• Nursing school was my dream—my calling to heal others. But my fragile bones couldn’t withstand long shifts on my feet, forcing me to abandon that path even as I watched fellow students don their scrubs.

• Two jobs, in environmental health. Every shift earned through grit—not ease—because I refuse to be labeled “lazy.” I’m fighting active lawsuits over unpaid medical bills just to keep myself afloat

• Volunteer heart: I’ve assisted veteran resource drives, supported public-health deployments with the Medical Reserve Corps, and stood up for my fellow workers as a newly elected CWA Local 1032 steward. This is who I am: someone who gives, no matter the cost.

Why This Campaign Is Different

This isn’t a plea for charity—it’s a call for partnership. When you give, you’re not rescuing me; you’re fueling an advocate who, even on the brink of collapse, rallies every day to help others:

“Spinal fusion can place additional stress on adjacent vertebrae, often leading to more pain later.”

— Mayo Clinic

“There’s not been one paper in 60 years proving spinal fusion relieves back pain long-term.”

— Dr. David Hanscom, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

I’ve lived these truths in every ache, every setback, every sleepless night. Yet I wake up determined to be more than my injuries.

How Your Gift Becomes Impact

• $10 helps cover the co-pay for a weekly surgeon follow-up, ensuring I stay on track with critical post-op care.

• $25 funds a doctor’s office visit or lab work needed to monitor complications and guide my next treatment steps.

• $100 secures vital imaging (X-rays or MRI) before my next surgery—knowledge is power against the unknown.

• $500+ wipes clean a chunk of medical debt or a pending lawsuit, freeing me to focus fully on recovery and service.

Matching Challenge: Double the Hope

A generous friend will MATCH the first $5,000 raised. Every dollar you give now becomes two—let’s unlock this match by May 15 and accelerate my comeback.

Your Simple Next Steps

1. Donate—no amount is too small to keep a warrior standing.

2. Share this story with three friends—your voice echoes louder than any donation.

3. Follow for real-time updates: breakthroughs, setbacks, and gratitude from my heart to yours.

I refuse to let debt and pain silence my service. With your partnership, I’ll keep fighting—for my health, for my community, and for every veteran and co-worker who needs a champion.

Thank you for standing with me. Together, we’ll transform years stolen by rotoscoliosis into decades of renewed purpose and impact.

Shannon Thomas

Newly Elected Shop Steward, CWA Local 1032

Veteran-Drive Assistant & Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer