Shannon Lapp's Medical Crisis

Shannon (Hickey) Lapp was born with biliary atresia and had a living-donor liver transplant as a baby. She was the 17th patient in the US to receive such a transplant. Her mother, Kelly Ann Lynch, was her donor. After the transplant, Shannon lived life to its fullest with perfect liver function, never once rejecting her liver. At the age of 7, she was diagnosed with post-transplant autoimmune hepatitis, and her meds were adjusted. Again, she lived life to its fullest, never rejecting her liver.

In 2017, Shannon's meds were adjusted so that she and her husband, Jesse Lapp, could safely have children. Unfortunately, this adjustment put Shannon into rejection for the first time in her life. By August of 2018, Shannon was hospitalized and given heavy doses of IV steroids to combat the rejection. The rejection did not respond to the steroids, and Shannon needed a much stronger IV medicine - Thymoglobulin (Thymo). No one knew then that Shannon would develop a severe allergic reaction to this medicine. As a result, on September 5, 2018, Shannon developed aseptic meningitis and nearly died. By the grace of God, her life was spared (Google "The Miracle in Room 106" by the Christophers), and she was eventually sent home to be with her husband and infant son.

Shannon and Jesse continued to grow their family. Shannon had complicated pregnancies with premature babies. In April of 2021, their daughter was born at 30 weeks after Shannon endured months of cholestasis with extremely high bile acids.

By April of the following year, Shannon's liver numbers continued to rise, and a liver biopsy showed that she was in rejection. She was admitted to the hospital - 173 miles from her home. She was given heavy doses of IV steroids, then sent home on oral steroids. Liver numbers were watched, and a repeat biopsy was done after those numbers continued to rise. That biopsy showed that the IV steroids did not combat the rejection. Shannon was admitted to the hospital again. Her doctors decided that Thymo was the only option, but since she had an allergic reaction in 2018, they decided to give it over longer periods of time, along with taking extra precautions.

Shannon responded well to the Thymo, and her liver numbers indicated it was working. She was discharged the day before Mother’s Day. She was so happy to be back home with her family. However, on Mother’s Day, Shannon felt changes in her body – swelling, hives, and numbness. By 9:00 p.m., she realized this was very serious as her throat began to close. An ambulance was called, and that crew literally saved her life by administering an EpiPen. Shannon was taken by ambulance to the local hospital and then transported by ambulance back to her NY hospital – again 173 miles from home. Shannon was in the hospital for a total of 22 days from April into May, 2022.

On November 17, 2022, Shannon and her husband Jesse will be back in the hospital in NY for outpatient IV steroids after a recent biopsy showed that Shannon’s body is still rejecting her liver. They are hopeful but realistic and know the road ahead may be difficult for Shannon.

The medical bills she and her husband have received are insurmountable, and they have utilized all their financial resources to pay what they can. The expenses involved in traveling back and forth to a NY hospital from their home are astronomical (gas, tolls, trains, hotels, parking, meals, etc., in addition to Jesse’s loss of wages). Shannon’s monthly copays for the numerous meds she currently takes are approximately $400 per month.

In April, friends and family used Venmo and gift cards to help Shannon and Jesse, and this was so greatly appreciated by them. At this time, the needs are far greater, and they have humbled themselves to allow us to ask for financial help on their behalf. All funds raised will be used for hospital and medical bills, copays, medicine, and the expenses of traveling back and forth to the hospital in NY.

Thank you for your generosity and your prayers as we all navigate this time together as a family. We are holding on to one another and to our faith.