https://www.gofundme.com/u/shannon-bachman

Hello everyone, my name is Shannon Bachman, I’m 49 yrs old. I am a mother, a grandmother to two beautiful granddaughters, Nova Rae, and Kairi Faye. A fiancé to Tim VanBenSchoten, a sister to Donna Barnard, Bridget Hantke, Nikiesha Moore, Patty Lynn Stewart, Rick Springer jr, Brandon Springer, and the daughter of Rick Springer sr, and to Nolan Bernard Moore, and a friend to many. I am not really sure how to do this, due to the fact that I am not one who likes to asks for help. I’ve always managed to figure things out on my own my entire life. My father always said, “If you want something in life, you have to work hard to get it, nothing comes for free”.

Unfortunately at this time I have been dealt a hand that I have no control over. Back in December of 2024 I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductile Carcinoma with Her2+, Triple Negative stage 3 Breast Cancer. This type of cancer is a very aggressive one. My treatment plan was 6 rounds of chemo once every 3 weeks, then surgery for a double mastectomy, then once healed from that I would undergo 20-25 rounds of radiation. I completed 5 rounds of chemo and it was hell during those times. My energy level had diminished, my appetite decreased significantly and I didn’t feel like myself at all. After my last treatment in April, I developed an infection in my great right toe, which prolonged surgery for my mastectomy. After a couple of weeks of being on an antibiotic I was finally able to go in for the mastectomy at the end of June. I had a hard time with that surgery, spending a week in the hospital. After a few days of being home I developed an infection on the right side underneath my right arm. Went through a few procedures in the doctors office where the doctor drained several tubes of the infection out. The test had come back as being MRSA. After being on a couple different antibiotics, and it not clearing up the way that the doctor wanted, I eventually had to go back in for another surgery. As of today, the infection is healing and I am slowly beginning to feel a little better each day. The pathology report has come back with no residual cancer cells which means that there is no more cancer in or around my breast area. The doctors have confirmed and concluded that I will no longer need radiation, but I will be on Herceptin injections a hormone replacement therapy for at least a yr, and another hormone therapy drug for 5yrs. As the days go on I slowly am beginning to get my strength back but it’s going to take time. Which if you know me, you know that I’m not a very patient person. I will not be able to return to work for sometime because I have to be able to lift, push, and pull at least 50 pounds or more.

I am a Direct Support Assistant with Nys DDSO and I absolutely love what I do. My last day of work was back on Jan 10, 2025. Unfortunately my employer doesn’t participate in Nys Disability, meaning in order for me to be eligible for disability that I pay into, my employer would have to pay into it as well. I know, you’re all probably thinking how is that even possible let alone legal, but I’ve spent countless hours trying to get answers and for them to lead me to someone who could. I still have no answers till this day. I have used all of my vacation, personal, and sick time to live off of for the first 3-4 months. After that coworkers were kindly enough to donate some of their time and I was ok living off of that for a bit. Then HR was able to give me my pay at half pay every two weeks. Unfortunately that barely covers all of the co pays for my treatments, surgery’s and dr visits. I believe that just those bills alone are about $5,000 or more. Today I received a notice from HR stating that as of August 1st I am now on leave without pay due to the length of time that I’ve already been out of work. In order to continue with my health insurance they want me to Apply for COBRA coverage, which will now cost me over a thousand dollars a month and that’s not including any copays for dr’s appointments, treatments, or medication. I do receive $1200 a month in PEARL disability that is offered through my employer that I pay for through every paycheck, but that is barely enough to cover the cost of my monthly bills such as, rent, car payment, car insurance, electric bill, food etc.. Even with my fiancé Tim’s income we’re barely staying a float.

I am asking friends, family and the community to help by donating if you can, the smallest donation can help. If you can’t donate please share my story, just by sharing will help to reach so many others. It’s been hard to concentrate on my recovery knowing that now I am not going to be able to afford my monthly bills, health insurance to continue with my treatments.

I’m a very hard worker, I have always taken care of myself and managed to figure things out on my own whenever life threw curve balls at me. Unfortunately until I am completely recovered from my illness I am unable to return to work.

I appreciate everyone who has been there for me either by text messages, phone calls, FaceTime (my daughter, Madison) daily, taking me for my treatments and appointments, (Tim fiancé).

Breast Cancer doesn’t just go away once the disease is gone from your body. Anyone who has gone through this disease or any kind of cancer will always have the what if’s, what if it returns, if it does will I beat it again, and how can you protect your family from the pain of this disease if it wins and you loose the fight. I fear this feeling every single day.

I want to thank you all in advance for anything that you can donate or do for me and my family for the duration of my journey!!

❤️❤️❤️

Thank You,

Shannon Bachman