Support Shan's Surgery and Recovery Journey

Hey! You may know me as Shan, or maybe Robyn Banks (my online name) but you all know me just the same, or possibly not at all - but the basics are that I’m a hardworking and incredibly driven carpenter who has made my way up to Superintendent of residential remodel sites! I specialize in residential remodel structural framing in Seattle, WA and I’m incredibly good at what I do. I’m incredibly proud to be a woman in this industry and I hope to inspire other non-traditional tradespeople to pursue careers in the trades or just pick up some tools and take on projects themselves.

Last February I suffered a back injury at work and while healing that injury my doctor discovered a mass in my pelvic region that had started to give me pain, and after many months (in addition to my back injury) I got diagnosed with an endometrioma (Kinda like a cyst but made of endometrial tissue - it wont heal on its own and only gets worse and larger!) on my left ovary, and *Oh Boy!* does that sucker hurt my back! While the initial injury was covered by work comp, its little discovery is not at all because she’s “home-grown.”

This little growth has really made itself at home in the past 8 months, growing about a centimeter a month since we found her! The funny thing about this cyst is that she and her besties (other endometrial tissue, yet to be discovered) really love to cause my lower back to go into spasms.

It’s become pretty emergent that we deal with this endometrioma and her friends that are likely exacerbating the nerves in my lower back. I love what I do, I want to do it for many years, but it’s not sustainable unless I get my endometriosis removed. My surgery is scheduled for November 15th, honestly I’m so excited to possibly find some relief, and while the surgery may not be terribly invasive they recommend I do not work for 2 weeks, post-op.

I am lucky to have WA FMLA cover part of my medical leave. That, however, doesn’t cover the first week of my two week leave. I have used my PTO on all the medical appointments it has taken me to get this far (2 ultrasounds and 3 doctors appointments, over 6 months, which is how long it took me to see an actual surgeon..and I am LUCKY that’s all it took.)

I have 20 hours of PTO left for this surgery of the 40 I need.

I need help paying my bills on top of this. My electricity is in danger of being shut off (even if I set up a payment plan, it resets every time i get another bill - I have managed to pay $1200 since august and the balance is still $614) and all of the additional costs like grocery delivery - or at least giving friends a couple bucks for helping.

I live alone and I have a partner, while he helps as much as he can, these bills are my own to help return me to the worker I once was, I need your support to help with the considerable bills, we are both working as hard as we can. He will have to take time off to help me and also be using the funds to help support me in the days after surgery. He will be cooking, cleaning, and shopping for me, I’d like for him to not have to bear the entirety of the financial burden.

My goal of $2000 isn’t set to alleviate ALL of the medical bills and costs of having a minimally invasive abdominal surgery, just to help with the costs of trying to catch up and return to work without falling behind. My convalescence should be limited to 2 weeks and I am hoping this alleviates my lower back and pelvic pain that is currently hurting my ability to work. I love what I do and look forward to doing it with less pain in the future.

As a thank you for donation I’d like to offer you the advice of a tradesperson, skilled structural carpenter, and someone who has built a lot of kitchens, bathrooms, and additions on old homes. I can give you ballpark prices and advice on who you need to call, what you need to ask about, and advice through the entire process! I will happily be your contractor friend.

Don’t need a contractor? Don’t own your place of residence? No problem- I will design a piece of furniture or cabinetry for you and even give you instructions on how it t needs to be built. All I need is an intended use and dimensions - optionally style, as well!

I’m not an architect but I am incredibly good at designing and building closets and storage. If you’re close to seattle I might even come out and do it with you!

All of this support is personal meaning phone and video calls are on the table.

Let me help you if you help me!!

Legal stuff: Legally none of the advice I give you is binding, and if it is entirely wrong (while it is not my intention) you can’t sue me for it - it will be friendly advice that you are free to take or ignore but given in my best professional opinion as a skilled builder familiar with international building code- not necessarily LOCAL code. All code is subject to local inspection and those inspectors, I do not guarantee compliance to any local codes. I hope that covers me…please don’t sue me.

TLDR:

Endometriosis surgery for a woman who is a carpenter.

2 weeks to heal and only one week covered by FMLA.

I am already behind on bills and I would truly love if I did not fall further behind.

Please help- helpers gain a contractor friend for a year (but probably for life) to ask for DIY advice, furniture design, and good Dad like advice from a carpenter! Old houses and structural framing are my specialty but I can help with most stuff and I have electricians and plumbers that can be pulled on to help when needed.

Thank you for reading, sharing this fundraiser is a great way to help if you cannot donate. It’s hard out here, thanks for taking the time, as I know there is a literal planet of people who need help right now.

Love, love, love, as much as our hearts can bear.