Whitfords fight cancer- again! 16-year-old now!??

For those of you who know us at the salon well, you also know our Shauna. She is our salon coordinator – the wonderful lady that handles the front end, and much of the back and middle of the salon too. (my right and sometimes left hand) She is the voice you speak with during the daytime hours. She has been with us again since the spring and was with us for many years a few years back. She is a Godsend to me and my business – and she is our friend - she is a part of our work family. She is also mother of four girls.  Thursday, Dec 15th, she had to take some time off work to take her 16-year-old daughter Dacoda to the doctor, as her daughter seemed to have a bad case of acid reflux or heartburn, so Shauna left the salon early to pick her daughter up from school. They decided to go to the hospital instead of a walk-in clinic. We of course all assumed that would be that, and her daughter would get some medicine, and Shauna would be back later that day, or for sure the next. Not the case. They found the issue. A big one. A mass near Dacoda's heart.

They transferred her to the Stollery the next morning, where she has been since. That week before Christmas was so hard - Shauna & Frank by Dacoda’s side the entire time – waiting anxiously for more and more test results. They got the results of the biopsy on December 23rd. The message we received Friday morning took the wind out of our sails - can't imagine them all. Dacoda was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma Stage 4, which will be treated with chemotherapy and radiation to shrink it, and God willing, rid of it for good. The good news, is this cancer is shown to be very treatable for most people, especially in a young person (again – she is only 16!). This seemingly healthy, athletic, beautiful young lady is in a fight for her life now – and Shauna and Frank need to be with her through it. There is never a good time for something like this to happen, but Christmas?? Couldn’t be a worse time for their family. Dacoda did get to go home for Christmas for a few days – and now back to Stollery – surgery today - Dec 26th, and treatment starting tomorrow. Shauna will be off work for some time, unknown how long, as well as Frank. They need to be with their daughter. Dacoda and family are in our hearts, prayers and mind continuously.

Shauna & Frank permitted me to share this information and photos because all of us at Studio 107 Hair want to have a fundraiser for the family. Shauna and her husband will be off and on work for some time (no idea how long yet), we just know we want to all help some with missing wages, and expenses incurred, and God willing, if any extra, enough money for the family to do something extra special for themselves when they are all back together and healthy. We hope and pray that with the upcoming months of treatments, Dacoda can resume doing what 16-year-olds are supposed to be doing - and create more special times for the entire family. They have been through so much these past few years.

What makes it even more heart wrenching, is that Shauna herself just had breast cancer in 2020. She had a double/complete mastectomy, major chemo and radiation - and after beating cancer, and all healed physically and mentally, she came back to work with us. She's a gift to us. We love her and her family and want to help them not only get through this but come out of it all, in turn, with funds raised for a gift for the family. They have been through so much - have missed much work, and endured so much, and now to have their 16-year-old daughter fighting cancer....beyond tragic. They have four daughters, no doubt all hurting and nervous. Please feel free to donate to their family here - or directly through us with cash at the salon. Let's help Shauna, Frank and Dacoda and the family have something to look forward to...as they head into a new year with a fight! Keep them in your prayers too please. Thank you for your time and consideration.