As many already know, Shannon Parsons is courageously fighting breast cancer! To know Shannon is to love her, and if you're lucky enough to be loved by her...you know that she would do absolutely anything for anyone. She is a dedicated Mom to Cooper, a daughter, a sister, a friend and a teacher who is loved by so many little people (that's just to name a few). She has been so very strong through this entire journey and such an inspiration to so many people. Some fundraisers from local small businesses have blessed her, and she is so thankful for that. They have made a tremendous difference. If this fight has taught her anything, it's that she is loved and special to more people than she could've ever imagined.

Butttt........

As you can imagine, medical bills are piling up and being out of work only adds to the stress. I wanted to create this gofundme to alleviate some of that stress so she can focus 100% on treatment and getting back to her students, who she misses more than anything. It will be greatly appreciated if you can donate even a tiny amount. If not, your thoughts and prayers are just as welcomed and appreciated. I want to show her that her army is behind her to support her and let her know she's not alone in this fight. She will come out of this stronger than she's ever been, and we will be there every.step.of.the.way!!!!

Just a little inside look at her fight thus far:

January- I felt a lump that seemed like it was about 1/2-1 inch wide. I wanted to wait at least a month or so to make sure it wasn't just a cyst.

Time slipped up on me because, well, life. Not to mention the end of the school year was quickly approaching, and it's just a tiiinnny bit busy at that time of the year.

June 29th- I hadn't felt or even really thought about the lump being there since January. When I felt it this time, it had doubled in size, if not more. I sent my OBGYN a message asking for a referral for a diagnostic mammogram.

July 3rd- I received a message from my OB saying she had sent in a referral for me and hoped I could get seen asap.

July 7th- I received a call with an appointment for July 22nd and was also put on the cancellation waitlist in case anything earlier opened up. (The woman who called with my appointment said that cancellation must have just happened when she went in to find the first available appointment because she was amazed that she could get me in so soon. Everyone else was looking at dates in October at all locations for the first available appointment.) I sent my OB a message letting her know about my appointment date, and in her response back to me, she confirmed the same thing, saying, " Some of my patients have been told it will be two months before they can get scheduled"

July 22nd: I had a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound.

July 26th: I had a biopsy on the 6-7cm mass and a biopsy on lymph nodes.

July 27th: I read my results on MyChart. Not understanding it all, of course, but enough to know my lymph nodes were benign. Praise God. Also, enough to know I had cancer.

July 28th: I met with my Cancer Navigator for her to give me those official results.

August 1: I met my surgeon to discuss things and had genetic testing done.

August 3: I had an MRI done.

August 5th: My surgeon had a conference with his team and 60 other professionals to look at everything to determine the best course of action that resulted in surgery first, and that surgery would be a bilateral mastectomy.

August 5th: I met with my plastic surgeon.

August 9th-I received a call to inform me that all of my genetics came back negative except for one. PALB2 was positive. This basically means that I was born with the gene that increases the risk of having breast cancer by 58%.

August 12th- I had a bone scan and a CT scan done.

September 7th- Had a bilateral mastectomy and the first part of breast reconstruction (all in one surgery.)

To be continued...

I will be sure to keep you all updated on our superwoman! ;)