Support for Shannon's Medical Recovery

My name is Matthew Evans. In early January, I had a slip and fall accident that required me to be off work because of a bulging disc in my lower back. I have been going through physical therapy to get back to work. I have been on short-term disability from Pitt Ohio, which gave me 60% of my normal income, but this will run out on April 3rd.

During the time I was off, my wife Shannon Evans worked through OnStaff placed at TRMI. On Thursday, February 20th, she passed out while at work on the line and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. They ran a battery of tests on her, including a CAT scan and MRI, in which they found a mass on her cerebellum called a Hemangioblastoma. It has a raised section about 5 millimeters in height. The mass itself isn't cancerous, but the raised tumor on it could be. We are hoping for the best possible outcome right now. They are planning on removing it within the coming weeks.

With both of us being down right now, things have gotten really tight. She will be down for at least 2 months and cannot drive herself anywhere until cleared by the doctors post-surgery. I am not normally one to ask for the help or kindness of others like this, but we are in a really bad position. We are asking for help to cover financial hurdles, i.e., rent, utilities, and other unforeseen expenses along the way. My employer has me off on personal medical leave and offered a separate Family Medical Leave for my wife that extends my time being off, without income, so I can be home to care and support her through this. Both of our employers are holding our employment so we can get Shannon treated and recovered, and will resume our employment once she is given the all-clear.

I set an $8,000 goal, which is about the amount of money needed for us to just get by on for 2 months. If you cannot donate, it's okay; we are very understanding. We appreciate any help we can get. If you can, just forward this to anyone you can.

This is a lot going on for us right now, and this was a huge shock to both of us and our children. We have older and younger kids, including a set of 8-year-old twins, and they are very worried about their mother, as am I.

I want to thank anyone in advance for contributing to helping our family through this very unfortunate and stressful time.

UPDATE!, she had an appointment today 2/25 and we found out that the mass is not cancerous, which is an absolute blessing, but she will have to undergo the surgery for removal, that is scheduled for March 10th at 7am, with an arrival of 5:30am, they will be removing a portion of her skull in the back of her head to gain access to the cystic lesion, and will be closed with plates and screws, there will be a hospital stay of 2 days at minimum, up to 5 days, depending on how she's feeling and recovering, she will be in the ICU for that time in case there is a brain bleed and emergency care should anything happen. we are hopeful for this to go smoothly, to those who have already donated we appreciate your help with this, we will thank you all individually thru here, and on Facebook. You help with this difficult time means the world to us.

another update, while we are getting Shannon’s surgery for the 10th ready, I had to go into the hospital on March 2nd because i was having stroke like symptoms, the ER department at Bronson Battle Creek order a CT of my head and neck to check for signs of a stroke, while no signs of stroke were evident, they found a 2.5cm tumor on my left nerve between my C5-C6 vertebrae which will require emergent care on top of what Shannon is already going through, I have to still go through and MRI and will have the surgery done at the University of Michigan because of how serious it is. It is another slow growing tumor but this is a nerve sheath tumor and it’s effecting my heart rhythm, we are going to be down and set back for 2 months together now unfortunately, we appreciate all those who have helped so far, all we ask is anyone and everyone please pray for us and share this anywhere and everywhere, please