Shannon -VS- Cancer

Hi Friends,

I have created this go fund me for one of my dearest friends Shannon Koi. We have been like sisters for the last 23 years and she is in the fight of her life.

In August Shannon was at a routine dermatologist appointment and a lump was discovered in her neck. After many tests, biopsies and scans, in September, it was determined she has Papillary Thyroid Cancer that has metastasized to her Lymph nodes. Ironically, September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. When she goes big she goes BIG for awareness. (Light humor here).

Shannon has already begun treatment at MD Anderson in Houston and is scheduled October 25th for a complete thyroidectomy with central and lateral neck dissection. Unfortunately, her cancer journey will not end there. In January she will begin testing and treatment to ablate any cancer cells remaining after surgery. The surgical team will treat this aggressively, as she is at high risk of reoccurrence due to the metastasis. This news couldn’t have come at a worse time for Shannon’s boys as they tragically lost their father to cancer this past year.

I am asking that if you can help, please do. There are large out of pocket costs including missed work and travel expenses such as hotel, parking, meals, scans, and medications. If you know Shannon you know the gloves are off, and she will fight like Hell. Although her journey is just beginning, any help we can offer my friend in alleviating some of the financial burden, will be greatly appreciated by her and her family. Please keep Shannon in your thoughts and prayers.

Please check back for updates and from the bottom of my heart thank you for your prayers and support.