Nurse Shenan needs our help!

Sonya Bement is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Shenandoah Wright.

Donation protected

Shenandoah Wright, RN, BSN, CEN, TNCC is a TRUE front-line hero looking for a little help.
If you ask anybody to describe Shenandoah to a stranger, the words selfless, hard-working, compassionate and generous would top the list. Shenan (as referred to by her friends) is currently serving as an ER Nurse at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center at Williamsport, PA. She has recently come into a challenging time both medically and financially and could use our help to get back on her feet again.

Shenan was a traveling nurse for a number of years and has recently returned to her hometown of Wellsboro, PA with her fiancé, Joe (a paramedic). Life as a traveling nurse was difficult for Shenan with constant travel, long shifts and varied routines. On her off-days she would often find herself exhausted, without the energy to enjoy her down-time. Together, Shenan and Joe decided to leave the traveling assignments behind and move to her hometown in search of a slower pace, less stress and the support of family.

Things were looking up for the pair as Joe immediately found work at the CVS Warehouse and Shenan as an ER nurse.

Just as they were starting to get into a routine in their new life, Shenan once again began to notice the overwhelming fatigue. This time, the fatigue was accompanied by tremors, brain fog and episodes of low-blood sugar. She remembered "Some days it was so hard to drag myself out of bed and to work. I was so tired and I didn't know what to expect from my body when my sugar would suddenly drop". She often wondered how long she would still be able to perform her demanding job.

In March of 2020, Shenan's endocrinologist found that her IGF-2 (cancer marker) was elevated which resulted in a PET scan April 2020. The scan showed uptake in the liver, pancreas, thyroid, kidneys and adrenal glands. Due to the complexity of her case, the endocrinologist stepped aside and referred her to the Mayo Clinic and an oncologist for consultation.

Later in March 2020, Joe was let go at CVS due to staff reductions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shenan and Joe still had savings in the bank to keep the household going for the in-between.

Since then, Shenan has been hospitalized three times for extended testing and low blood sugars. Then, in August 2020, Shenan experienced a serious motor vehicle accident on her way to work and was rushed to the closest Trauma Center. Her injuries were not life threatening, but her car was totaled and her medical bills compounded - now exceeding $25,000.

Shenan got right back to working full-time but with the uncertainty of her safety behind the wheel, Joe drove her every day. The pair's savings was just enough to carry them through and they have recently been blessed with a job for Joe and a second vehicle to get him there.

Cancer? Diabetes? A malignancy?

Still, no one knows - but Shenan and Joe know that something is still not right in her body and she is NOT getting better.

Shenan won't be able to follow-up with the Mayo Clinic due to financial constraints but she has found a doctor in Pittsburgh who is willing to help her. Any testing with this doctor is out of pocket - and much testing still needs to be done.

The couple has applied for financial assistance through the hospital but has been notified that she makes too much money to qualify. With savings depleted and financial assistance unavailable, the pair has come to the end of their rope.

Without a diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan it is hard to set a goal for fundraising. I hope to be able to bring their bills up to current so they are able to start fresh.