Please help Shawn in her fight, Stage III Cancer

Shawn, my best friend of 30 years, has recently been diagnosed with Stage III inoperable cancer in the bronchial area of her chest going into her trachea. Lung Cancer.

Aggressive, large, inoperable and cancer.

Four of the scariest words that I’ve ever heard.

Shawn is one of the most beautiful souls on this planet. She loves beyond measure and her greatest joys are her sweet child Mila (grown but always her baby) and her newly wedded husband of almost ten months, Brad. After coming to the Lake of the Ozarks community in 2014 she has done nothing but try to make everything around her better, more joyful, and vibrant as she has done as long as I’ve known her. Shawn has an open-heart policy for any and all, human and animal alike.

Shawn worked at the Camden County Juvenile Detention Facility until her recent marriage and was working/volunteering at Ozarks Kat and K9 thrift store up until a few months ago when she started not feeling well. After numerous doctor visits and no answers to her persistent illness, her family was hit with the devastating news when she was diagnosed with cancer.

This is what we know so far:

- She has a Stage III inoperable tumor in her bronchial area going into her trachea

- She will be having radiation treatment 5 days a week for six weeks and chemotherapy treatment once a week for the same timeframe. This will start within the next 2 weeks at Lake Regional Cancer Center.

- There are many appointments scheduled over the next week, so far, including PET scan of her body, MRI of her head, labs for treatment, more doctor consultations, care coordination, insurance, etc. The PET scan and MRI to determine if the cancer has metastasized to anywhere else in her body.

- In discussion/process of having care overseen by the Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis Mo. This facility is ranked #1 in Missouri and #10 in the country and their treatment (in conjunction with her current doctors) will give her the best chance at the intense battle ahead.

All, in the last 30 years we’ve been through all the things and have managed to come out on the other side. This one, however, is for Shawn’s very life and it’s going to be expensive Unfortunately her family and I can’t do it by ourselves. So for one of the only times in my life, I’m asking for help. All kinds of help. We understand that not everyone can donate money. But we are also asking to spread this far and wide to those that can. The economy is tough and we know that everyone is struggling. But every penny helps. Whether it is a $1 donation or just sharing among your friends, it all helps. And no matter what, please pray or put some positivity and light out in the universe for her.

I’ve started this GoFundMe to help her and her husband Brad with the associated expenses of this awful reality. The amount of this fundraiser will be adjusted accordingly as Shawn moves further along in this battle and the full expenses are updated. All funds raised will be used for medical expenses that insurance will not cover with a small amount going toward living expenses as Shawn will be unable to work, and a small amount used to offset travel expenses to and from hospitals. Whatever happens Thank you. Thank you for reading this. Thank you for taking the time to learn about Shawn’s journey so far in this battle. You are so appreciated.