Shannon’s kicking cancers ass medical fund

A few words from Shannon:

At age 43, after my first “routine” mammogram, I learned that I have breast cancer. My cancer is metastatic, meaning it has spread to other parts of my body, for which there is no cure. This news came weeks after I was informed I would be laid off from my full-time employment. When one door closes…

This situation has given me not only the opportunity but the drive and motivation to take the plunge and run my business, History Walks LLC, as a full-time job. To make a long story short, I genuinely feel this is my only opportunity to make this particular dream of mine come true.

Thankfully, there are fantastic medical treatments that can (hopefully) keep the cancer from growing. As with everything, there is a cost for that. There is a monetary cost for these medications, but there is also a physical toll to be paid.

While I count myself extremely fortunate as my side-effects from the medications are quite tolerable, they do limit my activity. In addition, I am still recovering from two surgeries and do not yet – YET being the key word – have full functionality of my right leg and left arm. BUT, It truly is getting better every day. At this point in my journey, I have many medical appointments that fill up my calendar. On any given week I have a minimum of 6 appointments, sometimes as many as 12.

As much as it pains me to say it, the bills are stacking up and I don’t know if I’m going to be able to “work” my way out from under them. You can believe I will work as hard as I can, but I no longer have the physical health that allows me to “push through it – do what you have to do”. The long days must come to an end.

This is not a desperate plea. I don’t mind having debt – I will find a way to fulfill my obligations. I share this with you because I have had multiple people in my life ask me “Is there anything I can do? Please let me know how I can help. Are you holding a fundraiser?” I have no secrets – anyone who knows me is all too familiar with this fact. So in keeping with tradition, here’s too much information.

At the time of this writing my current outstanding medical debt, all of which was acquired from this diagnosis, is $9,827.51 (which does not include charges pending with insurance). This averages my monthly out-of-pocket medical expenses at roughly $2,500. The monthly out-of-pocket amount should start to decline mid-year, but for now it continues.

I count my blessings every day and there are SO many of them. I have a wonderful, loving, caring, strong, empowering support system. I cannot thank them enough for all they do for me. I know I should say “I hate that I have to ask for help”, but the truth is, if I was on the other side of this I would want an avenue to show my support in a tangible way without trying to guess what it is my loved one needs.

Thank you for all of your support – tangible or metaphysical. I truly am one of the luckiest ladies to walk this earth. I encourage you to “Seize the day, ‘cause tomorrow, you might be dead.” A quote from Buffy Summers.

I recently purchased a new bag (I love bags :D) that has kind of become my new “badge of honor”. I carry it with me most days. It is kitty printed (the pattern of my soul) and reads “Wild & Free”.

You can’t cage me. I’m going to live until I die.