Please help our friend Shannon Walk Again

Shannon began her journey living in Spain. One day she was walking to work when she collapsed in pain. Strangers tried to help, and had to call an ambulance to take her to the hospital. She was examined and diagnosed with severe Endometriosis and a ripped pelvic floor in March 2022.

The Gynecologist told her that her Fallopian tubes are wrapped around her Uterus, and that she also has an Inoperable Cyst in them.

She has not been able to walk more than 10 mins at a time since March (5 months now), due to sciatic nerve pain in her pelvis and legs that make it impossible to walk, drive or sit for long. She now needs a walking aid and has paid out of pocket (550

Euros) for 2 MRIs that would normally be covered in the Canadian system. Her physician has requested these as they think the issue may reach the spine and be more complex than originally thought and resolving this may help her walk again. She is in almost constant pain, nausea and debilitating fatigue.

This is a situation that should have been resolved earlier but with the limited healthcare available to her in Spain, persists.

Over the past months we have learned that Spain does not have a reliable transportation or health care systems. (Post COVID shortages mean Taxi’s are often unavailable and unreliable even when ordering in advance, medical shuttles and support systems seem to be sorely lacking), and no one is available and able to reliably get her to and from medical appointments.

Due to the debilitating pain, nausea and fatigue she goes through daily, she is not able to work many consecutive hours and this severely limits her current earning potential. This is something we hope to see change with adequate medical care.

She is currently paying out of pocket for :

Physiotherapy 2x /wk

Gynecological Osteopath 1x /wk

Gynecologist

Medecine and supplements: at least 200€ a month

Private physicians : 110 - 250 Euros / session

Acupunturist ; 60 Eur a session

Any tests/ xrays/ mris :

Just this month she paid for 2 MRIS : 550€ + private doctors (110€/session) + any other xray, (MRIs etc which are around 300€ a piece. )

All this on top of fees of Personal Support Worker (PSW) help, Taxis, rent, and daily necessities and groceries (which are now 3x the usual amount as she has been put on a restrictive diet as part of the Endometriosis management).

Certified Translation of Spanish medical documents : 677 Euros

For ongoing healthcare, we are looking at

185$ for osteopath sessions

Roughly 150-250 $ for physio visits 1-2x à week , as well as gynecologist 1x à month

This is not a physical condition that can be tackled and lived alone. Having the support of family and friends is essential for Shannon to get through each stage, for eventual hospitalization and recovery, and for mental support. For this reason, Shannon plans to return to Canada where she has family and friends willing and able to accompany her on her healing journey.

Shannon is facing a 9-hour international flight back to her home in Canada. Her doctor has forbidden her to take the flight if she can't be seated in a cabin with lie-flat seats so that the sciatic nerve and pelvis aren’t contracted, and are not being pinched. These seats are only offered in business or in first class.

It is for the above-mentioned reasons, and due to her not being able to work in her current health condition, we are looking to raise money to cover the costs of her flight as well as medical bills that have been accumulating since her diagnosis and will continue to add up during her search for treatment and the time it takes to get referrals to the specialists.

Both physically and emotionally, she is at her wit's end. Once Shannon is home, she will be able to be around her family and friends. She can get the comprehensive medical help she needs to get to the bottom of this, in a language she can understand, and receive the benefits she is entitled to.

Shannon has never been a person to have to ask for help from the public, but she is at her final breaking point and this is her last standing chance of holding hope of getting back to good health.

We so appreciate your kindness, generosity, and empathy in these difficult times for Shannon.