Help Shanna recover from Breast Cancer and full Hysterectomy

I'm Steve McIlvain, Shanna’s dad.

Shanna has overcome several challenges and issues throughout her young life. Crazy, how life can be going good one day and then the next day out of the blue you feel an extremely large lump in your breast and your entire world becomes nothing but cancer. Every emotion hits you harder than before and your life changes completely.

In early February, Shanna, at 35 yrs old, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. But it’s also Triple Negative (worse kind) as well as testing positive for the mutated BRCA2 gene (much increased chance of Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer). Her surgeon, Dr Friedman (one of the best) is at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore (5.5 hr round trip). She’s in her eighth week (as of May 1st) of a 24 week Chemo program in Easton, MD (3 hr round trip). Because of the BRCA2 mutation, after Chemo she will undergo a double mastectomy , then reconstruction surgery, and more then likely a complete hysterectomy.

From a small town in lower Delaware, she is single and as of 2022 is sole proprietor of her own mobile dog grooming business… The Grateful Dog Groomer. Her love for those dogs gives her purpose and feeds her soul. Currently and for the better part of this year, she will not be able to do any grooming (her only income) due to the effects of her Chemo, including rarely seen oral issues (Chemo Teeth). Due to the oral/teeth issues from the Chemo she now requires oral surgery soon, as well as double mastectomy, reconstruction surgery, and hysterectomy upon completion of Chemo. The financial burden has become a real struggle for her.

Living alone and dealing with the pressures of the diagnosis and surgeries and household responsiblies is taking its toll on her. She needs to be able to focus on her treatment and recovery to defeat this, not worry about bills.

Regular household expenses, including mortgage is her priority.. Several have given towards helping early on, but that has already run out.

Raising this money is important for her to: 1.) keep up with her mortgage and household expenses, 2.) help with dental expenses, and 3.) help with medical and other expenses …so that by the end of this year, when she’s recovered, she can then re-establish her grooming business, and again appreciate her love of life.

Any amount you're willing to contribute is so greatly appreciated, and whether or not you are able to contribute, PLEASE SHARE this with your family, friends, and your social media.

That would mean the world to her.