You may have seen the local headlines from Spencer, MA this week regarding a shooting that injured a police officer and a civilian. You never imagine it will be someone you know, or someone you love.

A few days ago, our friend and part of our family, Sean Scannell, was the victim of a senseless act of violence. Sean is in critical condition in the ICU with a long road to recovery ahead of him. We are incredibly grateful that he’s still with us, but his injuries are devastating and life changing, including permanent loss of vision in his left eye.

Sean has already undergone multiple surgeries in a short time, with more to come. As you can imagine, the medical bills are piling up quickly, and even with insurance, his out-of-pocket costs will be overwhelming. It is estimated that a prosthetic eye alone will cost roughly $10,000 out of pocket, not to mention the cost of life flight, surgeries, medications, and the loss of work.

It’s difficult to describe the pain that the Scannell family has recently endured. Just 6 months ago, Sean and his brother lost their deeply beloved mother, Joanne, to cancer. Their father, Bob, is currently battling cancer. Even with this incredibly heavy weight, Sean has never wavered from being the kind, caring, and thoughtful person that he always has been. He played a critical role in caring for both of his parents during their cancer journeys while still finding time to engage in his hobbies, like hosting Magic the Gathering games with his friends, online gaming, and providing unconditional love to his anxious cat, Spud. But even the strongest people and families need outside support.

So, we’re asking for your support – whether it’s a donation, a share, or a message of encouragement. Every contribution helps lighten the burden he and his family are facing and allows them to focus on what matters most: recovery after a truly traumatic event. We are starting the fundraising at $25,000 but will update the goal and all of you as the reality of costs becomes more apparent and concrete. The funds will go entirely to items related to this incident - medical expenses, lodging and travel expenses for his immediate family, rehabilitation services and physical therapy, cosmetic surgeries and a prosthetic eye, and Sean’s household expenses while he is unable to work.

Thank you for taking the time to read his story, and for helping us to show him that he is not facing this alone.

Please donate if you can. Every bit truly makes a difference.