Support Shawn's Journey to Recovery

My name is Rosa Rondeau. The vacation photos you see in this post were taken between 3/20/25 and 3/22/25. My husband Shawn and I were celebrating our dear friend’s destination wedding in Mexico, having the time of our lives.

Today, my husband lies in a hospital bed recovering from an amputation surgery on his left leg due to an infection he caught in his foot that spread through his body stopping above his knee then resuming again at his neck , the infection stopped at his neck and by the grace of god missed all of his major organs, including his heart.

On March 24, he caught food poisoning from the airport, which led to a stomach bug. After a few days, he wasn’t feeling better, so on March 30, he visited his local ER where they informed him he is diabetic. This was new to him. We adjusted his diet and made an appointment with his primary for a follow-up.

The following week, he was still not feeling well. We assumed the insulin gave him some side effects of pain and we didn’t think anything of it . The weekend of April 5/6, he spent the entire time with his leg elevated in bed , because it had begun to swell.

On Tuesday, April 8, the pain was too much to handle. He was taken by ambulance to the ER once again where he was informed that the infection had spread to his leg and it was no longer viable.

At 9:30 pm, my husband underwent an emergency transfemoral amputation surgery, which means above the knee.

This life change is going to be one that is going to be a difficult journey to go through.

Not only physically and mentally but financially as well.

Sometimes we allow our pride to get in the way when help is needed, but this time Shawn and I can admit that we’re going to need help. Shawn is going to need medical equipment for the house to accommodate his needs; we live on a second-floor walk-up. He'll need multiple surgeries over the course of months where the copays are going to be costly. We’re hoping that someone out there sees our story and finds it in their heart to help us get through this.

Let me tell you a little about my husband .

In 2017 he started a weight loss journey to be his mother’s primary caregiver . Through diet , exercise and healthier habits Shawn was able to ultimately achieve his goal and lose 300 pounds over the course of the next 8 years . His dedication and determination proved that he can do anything he set's his mind too and this journey for him will be no different .

Shawn is the youngest of four siblings , an uncle to 3 nephews and 2 nieces and 2 great nephews.

Shawn and his closest friend group have known one another for over 30 years . Sharing their childhood on the lake, bike riding and doing all the things kids did in their early teens .

My husband is one of the most selfless men I have ever met in my life. From being a caregiver to his mother to being a father to children he didn’t make. My husband is passionate about his career and loves his family so fiercely. He is a husband, a father, a grandfather, friend, a brother, an uncle, and a nephew, and his loved ones and I want to help him ease into his transition as smoothly as possible.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and see his story .