Help Shannon Beat Cancer
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Shannon is a warm-hearted, compassionate individual who is a dedicated daughter, friend and caring professional who has generously devoted the past 18 years of her life helping breast cancer victims recover from this devastating disease in so many different ways. She is known to be philanthropic in her own way by providing 3D Areola tattooing for mastectomy patients from the goodness in her heart. She is a loyal supporter who loves helping others and continues to do so even in her darkest days of this illness right now.
Metastatic breast cancer has attacked her joints, hips and spine in the most devastating way possible and has Shannon bedridden most days, making even bathroom trips painful. Something as simple as sitting on the sofa eating a cup of soup is not an option most days as the spinal tumors have done so much damage to the alignment of her spine. Conventional therapy has been limited in providing relief and positive progress, forcing her to seek expensive alternative treatments and therapies that have shown great promise so far. Unfortunately, as you might guess, insurance companies refuse to pay for these essential treatments that are helping save her life.
Early on the morning of June 9th, 2020, Shannon awoke at 5am to excruciating pain and was rushed to Capital Health in Pennington, NJ. Shannon described her pain event as “a 20 on a 10 scale.” While COVID-19 had its grip on the Northeast, it prevented her from seeking care for what she believed was just a sore back. Sadly, doctors diagnosed Shannon with metastatic breast cancer and advised her that it had invaded the bones in her hips, shoulder blade, sternum and spine. With pain levels so intense, walking became almost impossible. Shannon was forced to take a leave of absence from her job of 8 years at the Breast Cancer Center and was eventually forced to resign. She is unable to walk properly and cannot perform her job. Her life’s work of helping other breast cancer victims at the Breast Cancer Center was forced to an end.
Unfortunately, cancer is a word that Shannon was all too familiar with. Her Aunt Mary is currently battling a brain cancer called glioblastoma. As a young girl, Shannon’s Grandfather was like a father figure to her and she was devastated when her Papa died suddenly of cancer. Early in 2019, upon discovering a small lump in her breast, her doctors told her that a double radical mastectomy was her best option for survival. Without hesitation, Shannon opted to have the surgery. She would spend months recovering and eventually returned to her job. Believing she was cured, she resumed helping other breast cancer patients.
As you can imagine, this catastrophic event has turned the family’s world upside down. All of Shannon’s hopes and dreams had to be put on hold as she prepared for the battle of her life. The family is now faced with additional financial burdens and medical treatments not covered by insurance. As Shannon embarks on this fight, her road to recovery will be long. Unable to work, Shannon will be spending the better part of the coming year in and out of the hospital.
This fundraiser has been established to help ease the burden on Shannon and her family so that they can focus all of their efforts on Shannon’s treatment, healing and spending precious time together. Anyone who knows Shannon can attest to the fact that she is incredibly giving when it comes to her time, love, and energy for anyone in need. As Shannon’s family faces the unthinkable and do all they can to help Shannon beat cancer, if we can help alleviate some of the day to day financial pressures that will mount during this time of critical care, we too will have done our part to support them in a time of sincere need.
With deep gratitude,
Barbara
Metastatic breast cancer has attacked her joints, hips and spine in the most devastating way possible and has Shannon bedridden most days, making even bathroom trips painful. Something as simple as sitting on the sofa eating a cup of soup is not an option most days as the spinal tumors have done so much damage to the alignment of her spine. Conventional therapy has been limited in providing relief and positive progress, forcing her to seek expensive alternative treatments and therapies that have shown great promise so far. Unfortunately, as you might guess, insurance companies refuse to pay for these essential treatments that are helping save her life.
Early on the morning of June 9th, 2020, Shannon awoke at 5am to excruciating pain and was rushed to Capital Health in Pennington, NJ. Shannon described her pain event as “a 20 on a 10 scale.” While COVID-19 had its grip on the Northeast, it prevented her from seeking care for what she believed was just a sore back. Sadly, doctors diagnosed Shannon with metastatic breast cancer and advised her that it had invaded the bones in her hips, shoulder blade, sternum and spine. With pain levels so intense, walking became almost impossible. Shannon was forced to take a leave of absence from her job of 8 years at the Breast Cancer Center and was eventually forced to resign. She is unable to walk properly and cannot perform her job. Her life’s work of helping other breast cancer victims at the Breast Cancer Center was forced to an end.
Unfortunately, cancer is a word that Shannon was all too familiar with. Her Aunt Mary is currently battling a brain cancer called glioblastoma. As a young girl, Shannon’s Grandfather was like a father figure to her and she was devastated when her Papa died suddenly of cancer. Early in 2019, upon discovering a small lump in her breast, her doctors told her that a double radical mastectomy was her best option for survival. Without hesitation, Shannon opted to have the surgery. She would spend months recovering and eventually returned to her job. Believing she was cured, she resumed helping other breast cancer patients.
As you can imagine, this catastrophic event has turned the family’s world upside down. All of Shannon’s hopes and dreams had to be put on hold as she prepared for the battle of her life. The family is now faced with additional financial burdens and medical treatments not covered by insurance. As Shannon embarks on this fight, her road to recovery will be long. Unable to work, Shannon will be spending the better part of the coming year in and out of the hospital.
This fundraiser has been established to help ease the burden on Shannon and her family so that they can focus all of their efforts on Shannon’s treatment, healing and spending precious time together. Anyone who knows Shannon can attest to the fact that she is incredibly giving when it comes to her time, love, and energy for anyone in need. As Shannon’s family faces the unthinkable and do all they can to help Shannon beat cancer, if we can help alleviate some of the day to day financial pressures that will mount during this time of critical care, we too will have done our part to support them in a time of sincere need.
With deep gratitude,
Barbara
Organizer
Shannon Simmons
Organizer
Fort Walton Beach, FL