Our former nanny, Shannon Smith, has experienced an unimaginable loss—her twin sister, Sheena Houston, unexpectedly passed away on Wednesday, March 11th.

In an instant, she went from grieving her twin sister to carrying the weight of an entire family.

Her passing has left a profound void in her family’s lives and has completely reshaped their world overnight.

Sheena leaves behind three daughters:

Shamira (21), Sierra (17), and Sariya (11).

In the wake of this heartbreaking loss, the responsibility of caring for the family has fallen largely on Shannon and Sheena’s eldest daughter, Shamira. Together, they are now the primary caregivers for the two younger girls, while Shannon also continues to care for her 55-year-old sister with special needs, who depends on her daily. In addition, Shannon is balancing care for her own daughter and stepdaughter.

The emotional weight of this loss is overwhelming—but the financial burden that followed has made this incredibly difficult time even more challenging.

Shannon immediately stepped in to handle urgent responsibilities, personally covering the cost of Sheena’s cremation and urn so her sister could be laid to rest with dignity. At the same time, the family is now facing numerous unexpected expenses, including:

• Ongoing school and extracurricular costs for the girls

• Medical expenses for Shamira, who is courageously battling lupus herself

• Orthodontic care for 11-year-old Sariya

• Vehicle repairs and expenses for the two cars Sheena left behind

• Monthly car payments and essential household needs

Anyone who knows Shannon knows how selfless and compassionate she is. She has spent much of her life caring for others—not only as a loving and dedicated nanny to our son, Connor, but also as a special education teacher, supporting children with special needs for many years. Caring for others is simply who she is.

Now, Shannon has stepped up once again—putting others first during one of the most painful times in her life.

We created this fundraiser to help ease some of the financial burden Shannon and her family are facing, so they can focus on healing and providing stability for the girls.

Any donation, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference. If you’re unable to give, sharing this page would mean so much to the family.

Thank you for helping surround Shannon, Shamira, Sierra, and Sariya with love, support, and hope as they navigate this unimaginable loss.

**FYI- GoFundMe may suggest a tip at checkout, feel free to adjust or skip it**