Support Shane Santiago's Medical Recovery

Hi, I'm Crystal Shackelford, friend of the Santiago Family. I am all too familiar with the toll a medical emergency can take, as my own family had our own not too long ago and the Santiago's were there for us 100% of the way. I am hoping to return that kindness and help in their own time of medical crisis.

I am reaching out for help to support the loving Santiago family who are going through an incredibly difficult time. Their lives were turned upside down when Shane was hospitalized on October 16th for what they thought would be a straightforward surgery.

Back in September, doctors found a mass in his colon that they feared was cancerous. He underwent a colon resection and appendectomy. Thankfully, the colon resection surgery confirmed it wasn’t cancer. However, complications from the procedure led to a series of severe health challenges.

The internal stitches for his appendectomy failed, leading to peritonitis, a life-threatening infection. He went into septic shock and needed an emergency second surgery to repair the leakage. After several days in the ICU, he was finally stable enough to be moved to a regular floor.

However, his condition worsened when he once again began to show signs of potential septic shock forcing doctors to consider a third surgery. To avoid this, he was moved to the step-down ICU unit for intensive monitoring. He has endured weeks of hospital care, including multiple X-rays, CAT scans, interventional radiology, paracentesis and two surgeries, fighting for his health and his life.

His children haven’t been able to see or speak to him for over three weeks due to his weakened state. The emotional toll on the family has been heavy, and now they face mounting expenses as he continues his long and difficult recovery.

We are asking for any support you can provide to help this family manage their overwhelming expenses and relieve some of the financial stress during this challenging time. Any amount would be a blessing and deeply appreciated as they focus on healing, both physically and mentally. Please share and support if you’re able—together, we can help them through this journey. Best,