Medical Funds Needed For Shannon's Care

Hi Everyone,

With gracious and hopeful hearts, we venture onto this platform in search of support for our beloved Shannon Jackson as she continues to face a major medical challenge.

In early September of 2024, Shannon began experiencing what felt like symptoms of vertigo. Neurological issues including extreme dizziness, nausea, and sensations of imbalance began to show up in her daily life, often with little to no relief for long periods of time. As these miserable conditions continued on for weeks, she began to notice a worsening of symptoms. The constant dizziness and nausea escalated to debilitating levels, resulting in many restless days and nights, and ultimately, a visit to the ER.

A plethora of medical appointments followed, and thus far professionals have deduced that Shannon suffers from a medical condition known as PPPD (Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness). It is usually described as a constant sensation of floating or rocking, and is often intensified when standing, when in complex visual environments like grocery stores or crowds, and in Shannon's case, when looking at a phone or computer screen. PPPD is defined as a sudden change in the brain’s ability to interpret space/motion, and generally follows an alarming event, where the body's fight or flight system is activated. Once the alarming event stops, instead of resetting, the brain maintains that abnormal perception, causing constant rocking sensation for at least three months.

Shannon is currently being treated for PPPD, which involves an exhausting amount of visits with many specialists. She's been seen by an ENT, neurologist, gastroenterologist, chiropractor, and physical therapist. Various tests and treatments have been conducted, including an EKG, ct scan, prescribed at-home daily exercises, and rehabilitation therapy at the Emory Brain Health Center. In the process of being treated, new symptoms and issues have surfaced, and additional testing procedures are being prescribed in order to rule out any possibility of an underlying cause. Future appointments involve participation in cognitive behavior therapy, as well as meeting with a cardiologist.

Shannon will soon undergo an MRI as she continues to try and puzzle together more answers, but resting her body and mind has become a non-negotiable. She's been teaching yoga full time up until now, sometimes through sheer will alone, and is so heartbroken to admit that a necessary leave of absence is required in order to truly heal. Shannon holds an immeasurable amount of love for this practice and for her students; she hopes to be able to return to her passion fully recovered.

Shannon's employer, Highland Yoga, has generously honored her with some paid time off, and fortunately, the insurance they provide their full time employees has existed throughout this process. A deductible still has to be met, however, before anything is covered at full cost. Shannon will also be taking some unpaid leave in order to bring her symptoms to a manageable place, or hopefully to a complete recovery. Medical bills are beginning to arrive, and with the constant battle of day-to-day functioning, it is beyond overwhelming to process this oncoming financial hardship.

To know Shannon is to understand her incredible ability to see the message within the multitude of life's circumstances. If you have ever had the opportunity to take one or many of her yoga classes, you may have witnessed firsthand how her reflections can be related to your own experiences.

She's a fierce human with a huge heart and remarkable resilience, but sometimes it takes a village. Shannon says her lesson behind all of this, she's realized, is how painful but necessary it is to express her need for support. She says there's a sense of shame trying to take her down here, but she's not going to allow it, because her growing edge lies in learning to reach out and ask for help. She feels extremely humbled, and wants everyone to know how grateful she is as she moves forth to find a way back to herself, her health, and the life she once had.

Support exists in so many forms - donations, prayers, good energy, words of encouragement, and sharing this page with others. Any way that you are able to contribute is so helpful and truly appreciated.

Since phone/computer screens severely trigger her symptoms, Shannon gently asks for no written texts or emails at this time, but she welcomes audio messages and phone calls. Please know that she'll be receiving and absorbing your support, that it is so very meaningful to her, and that she is sending much love and good energy back.

Thank you all for your attention and time here. We are so blessed to have such a kind and nurturing community of folks to share this with. Please continue to follow this page for updates on Shannon's progress - and in the meantime, let's manifest a bounty of rest and restoration for our amazing gal.