Shannon Cook's battle with Crohn's disease
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Our dear Shannon is now on day 28 in the hospital fighting Crohn's disease. She spent 14 of those days at Carle Clinic while they tried yet another medicine. She was taken by ambulance and transferred to UChicago Medical to try a last ditch medicine to save her colon.
At first we had high hopes that Cyclosporine was working as she started doing better and even had discharge papers in hand to go home...only to have the rug ripped out from under her with news that her inflammation levels had skyrocketted and she had to stay.
They plan to do colectomy surgery today to remove her colon (hopefully today as she spiked a fever last night that might complicate things). She was crushed as she's fought so many years to try to stay healthy and avoid this surgery.
She is the sweetest girl, always going out of her way to make everyone else feel better, even when she has been so miserable for so long.
She has been fighting this terrible disease since she was 16 with multiple hospital visits and way too many needle sticks to count and unbearable pain. The pain is the worst as it's an invisible disease that other people can't fathom. So much of the time you can't tell by looking at her just just how sick she is. Plus she indeed tries to always make others feel better.
She graduated high school with honors, Millikin University on the High Dean's List and landed her dream job as an Art Teacher at Dennis Lab School all while dealing with this terrible illness.
She was so excited to start her teaching career only to be so sick and so fatigued that she struggled terribly and had to miss a lot of days, which made her feel (unduly) guilty. She powered though as much as she could for those kids that she completely fell in love with at school.
We all had hopes that once school was out for the summer she could rest and wait for a new medicine to kick in and be good to go by fall.
She will be unable to work for awhile after surgery and as she adapts to her new 'normal' and will have many follow up Dr visits and likely 2 more surgeries in the future.
I have had so many kind hearted people reach out with well wishes and even several ask if we had a Go Fund Me for her that I decided to go ahead and set one up for her in case anyone wants to help. This will go directly to her for household bills and subsequent medical expenses and travel as she recovers. I just know that she is going to be just an advocate for others going through this truly private horror of a disease..
She is such a joy and the best daughter, grand daughter, little sister and most amazing BIG sister ever ❤️. We all love her and hope this procedure will keep her pain free forever.
Organizer and beneficiary
Valerie Cook
Organizer
Decatur, IL
Shannon Cook
Beneficiary