Shawn Palenik's Spinal Cord Injury Fund

My Dad, Shawn Palenik, is a devoted husband, an amazing father, and a proud electrician of the IBEW Local 134 Brotherhood. Shawn has always been the epitome of a proud union Electrician; always there to help his fellow union brothers. In fact, Shawn is always there for everyone in need. I’ve seen it, with the way he helps his neighbors, his friends, and most of all his family. When you’re around my Dad, he wouldn’t leave you without a hug and a positive happy thought. Shawn has always been very grateful for everything he has, coming from a humble background on the Southside of Chicago in the Back of the Yards. Being a part of a big family, things did not always come easy, but he learned to appreciate everything. Mostly the people he loved. Shawn’s life was idyllic until it came to a screeching halt in 2015 with the sudden loss of his wife; our Mom. He did what he had to do to get our family through this difficult time. In normal Shawn fashion, he worked hard every day, and ran the household while helping my sister and I adjust to our loss as he started to rebuild his life. That all came crashing down on Feb 6, 2020. Shawn had a very bad cold and while sick, passed out and fell in his bathroom. When I found him, he was not responding and unable to move. He was immediately rushed to Silver Cross Hospital in an ambulance. When he came to, he had no feeling in his arms, legs, or hands, and he couldn’t move. This pillar of strength, who helps everyone out, does everything around the house, fixes anything, builds and repairs everything himself, was now unable to move anything on his body.  It was determined that his spine was injured and he needed to be transferred to Northwestern Hospital for emergency spine surgery. His fall had compressed discs in his spine from C4 through C7. Shawn had the surgery and spent the next 8 weeks at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab trying to regain feeling in his limbs and hands. From there he was transferred to a sub-acute rehab facility to continue his recovery. Shawn is now a quadriplegic trying to regain movement in his limbs. 

While Shawn, his doctors, and his family try to stay positive, we are increasingly made aware of how costly Shawn’s care has become. So much of what Shawn needs is not covered by insurance. This has been another devastating event for this family as we support his recovery while his full-time care continues to escalate. Shawn’s situation, because he cannot move or do anything for himself, requires a full-time caregiver, constant medications, therapists, and nurses. As Shawn physically and emotionally progresses with his recovery and tries to gain strength and movement, it has become evident that Shawn will need not only prayers from those who know and love him, but financial support from all who can give. 

Shawn is a wonderful person who has always been first in line to help anyone in need. We are so grateful for the community of friends and family that Shawn has. We want to Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, and the love that has cloaked Shawn helping him through this healing process. Thank you for your support in his time of need.