Shannon Proctor's Cancer Warrior Fund

#shannonstribe #cancerwarrior #standuptocancer #shannonstrong #faith

Dear Family, Friends, and Supporters,

As many of you know by now, our courageous Shannon's world was forever changed in January 2021, just following her 45th birthday,
when she heard the words, "You have terminal cancer." When I learned of Shannon's diagnosis, it hit me really hard in so many ways.
So many thoughts flooded my mind "But God she has a wonderful career, she's a single Mother and Rock to her two boys. Her Mom, Dad,   Sister, Brother, Nephews, and Nieces. So many friends. They need her. She needs them. She has so much to live for and love to give.      She's too young, God!"  I have prayed each morning, night, and in between since learning this devastating news  

She learned at first diagnosis that she has Stage IV HER2 positive breast cancer that has metastasized into her lymph nodes and lungs.
This aggressive cancer is incurable so obviously Shannon, her two boys, Spencer and Tanner, and her family were devastated by this news. She was told that the cancer was so far advanced that surgery was not an option because it would unlikely rid of all the cancer cells in her
body. Her only course of treatment was to begin chemotherapy in order to prolong and improve her quality of life.

She was forced to research and discover everything about this unexpected diagnosis all while her boys and loved ones began to mourn a
life that was so abruptly interrupted.

Shannon immediately started her fight and for 24 straight weeks endured brutal chemotherapy treatments which included three
medications of Taxol, Herceptin and Perjeta.  In a culture focused on survivorship, she will be in treatment for the rest of her life, and she   felt isolated and misunderstood. People would ask her when she would be done with treatment and she would promptly reply, “when I’m   dead.”

Chemotherapy is often harsh and unforgiving and dealing with an incurable illness where the side effects of treatment are unbearable, it is a burden she has to bear all while explaining to others that the doctor appointments, scans and treatment will never come to an end.
She will be on targeted therapy treatments forever because of the HER2 gene which promotes the growth of cancer cells and significantly impacts the return of this invasive cancer.

She lost her hair; she lost her mind, and she lost her identity. She was an emotional wreck and thought of Spencer and Tanner as she fought through treatment when on many occasions, she didn’t think she could take one more week of poison flowing through her body. 
Getting out of bed was a chore and the side effects were crippling.

She fought like hell and recently received the amazing news of a clean PET scan and no evidence of cancer in her body at this time! She may now even be a surgical candidate which could add years to her life! Although this is miraculous news, Shannon still has a hard road
full of obstacles in front of her.

She will remain on weekly chemotherapy treatments for 3 months and then face her surgical options which include a double
mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

Shannon is so loved and supported by so many in her community but for some people it is unbearable to ask for help. So here we are asking for your support while she continues to battle this horrible disease.

She was handed a death sentence 6 months ago and by the grace of God and the power of prayer, she was gifted of being cancer free at this time. Her doctor was stunned at the progress and told Shannon that she was surrounded by guardian angels.
Shannon’s focus now is to seize the day and live her life to the fullest as long as God allows her to stay with us on this earth.

Cancer affects us all in some way. It takes away the lives of too many people that we love way before we are ready to let them go. It is scary for Shannon as she courageously fights this disease but even scarier for her to watch Spencer, Tanner, her family and friends endure their   pain and worry as they stand by her side and struggle with her.

Shannon has been out of work since February and with her future treatments and possible surgeries, she is likely to remain out of work until next year.

Any donated funds will go directly to Shannon for life necessities and any medical bills that are not covered by insurance.

She needs to focus on her continuous fight without the constant reminders and worries of financial burdens.

It is people like you that keep Shannon fighting when she thinks she can’t face another day.

It is people like you that give her hope for the future, which we all would agree, is better with Shannon in it.

You may see her struggle, but you will never see her quit.

It is often in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars. If together we fight, then together we win.

Shannon is a warrior. Please stand up with her and consider donating to her GoFundMe cause.

Please also continue to pray and share her cause to help her story reach and inspire others. God bless!

#shannonstribe #cancerwarrior #standuptocancer #shannonstrong #faith