Please Help Our Dearest Friends Joe and Shannon

Hi! My friend Marla Musch and myself, (Michelle Oliver), would like to introduce ourselves to those that don’t know us. Marla and I are both involved in a local non for profit, (PINK for Sam), both of us originally from DeMotte, (but reside in Rensselaer), and we also run businesses out of our homes. Marla and I both just LOVE to help others and are desperately seeking to help our close friends. 

Several weeks ago one of our friends Joe Amsler was injured while helping out with a roof. What looked like a non invasive injury,(from a fall), resulted in an intensive surgery to repair the heel of his foot. Joe was informed that this type of injury,( if not healed properly),could be disabling. Since then Joe has suffered from an infection that has set his recovery back. Joe is a local union worker and doesn’t receive income for his time off, so things are starting to get a little tough since being off work. 

A little bit about Joe;  If you know him you would know he is known for his artistic abilities with tattooing. Over the years Joe has donated MANY tattoos for numerous fundraising events with each valued in the hundreds! He always steps up to help. There are people literally walking around ALL over the place with his art work inked on there skin. Joe has tattooed hundreds of people over the years!  Update; Joes recovery has been a lengthy one, he still can’t walk on his foot but we are all hoping he gets GOOD news at his next appointment sometime in the fall. 

While Joe’s story is sad enough already, even more devastating news has surfaced and something we NEVER expected. Shannon Stevens ,(Joes fiancé), and our dearest friend was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Breast Cancer just recently. 

This has been an extremely hard time for the both of them trying to maneuver through all this shocking news! Shannon also a PINK for Sam member has also volunteered her time alongside myself in other organizations over the years such as ; Community Alliance/Police Department Woman’s Auxiliary/ Fire Department and PSI lota Xi to name a few. Shannon runs a local childcare business out of her home and has been serving families for over 25 years!! Shannon just started her journey with chemotherapy treatments up North.  Surgery is planned at a later date and radiation to follow. Shannon has been Positive, and Upbeat since her diagnosis and we have NO doubts that with her Faith and Support from her Family and Friends she WILL beat this disease!!

I’m so enamored by our beautiful Shannon and the amount of STRENGTH she wears for ALL to see. We ALL admire her POSITIVE outlook to beat this!! Cancer has NO chance and has certainly messed with the wrong person!!

Marla and I are asking for your help. Can we all come together to try and help Joe and Shannon during this difficult time? We are still uncertain how much longer Joe’s recovery will be,(as it’s been weeks already), and It’s too soon to know how Shannon will react to the chemo and if this could impact her day to day routine, (especially with an earlier diagnosis of Lymes and Lupus.) We are asking for prayers because this next year will be a difficult one for them both. I know they appreciate everyone and all the support.  We know we serve a mighty God and we will continue our prayers for Joe and Shannon for complete healing.

We Thank you SO much and BLESSINGS to ALL of YOU!! 

Much love, 

Michelle & Marla