Shannon Kooser

Mom. Wife. Grandmother. Daughter. Sister. Aunt. Friend. Daycare Mom. God Mother. Confidant. Best Friend. Supporter. Lymphoma Warrior…

All of you know Shannon by at least one of these names…but the last one may surprise you.  For 14 years, this strong woman has been living with a diagnosis of and fighting Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  For 14 years, this fighter has been joyful, upbeat, and wearing a bright smile as she has gone on with her daily life - being an amazing Mom; loving wife; caregiver to kids as if they were her own; cheering at her sons’ lacrosse games; going shopping and on scrapbooking adventures; attending or hosting graduations, birthday parties, bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, births, communions, baptisms, and dinners with friends; buying groceries; going on vacations; attending PTA meetings; taking care of sick parents; paying bills; volunteering; welcoming her first grandchild; hosting Thanksgiving; attending countless doctor appointments; receiving chemotherapy; being sick; feeling weak; and being scared.

After 14 years of asking very little from a very small group of people, the time has come that she needs all of us.  All of our support.  All of our love.  All of our prayers.  All of our strength.  Shannon was treated with conventional chemotherapy for many years, but now the cancer is "not behaving" or responding to chemotherapy.  Shannon needs a bone marrow transplant.  Her boys have all had blood tests and we are currently awaiting the results to see which will be the best match for her.  Tomorrow, Shannon starts taking a clinical trial chemotherapy pill to get her in remission.  This drug serves as a bridge to the transplant, as they can not attempt a bone marrow transplant unless she is in remission.  The doctors tell us that she can be in remission as soon as 8 weeks but it could take much longer.  With a successful transplant, Shannon has a 50% chance or more of getting a CURE!  So while the timeline is unknown, and treatment will be difficult, the path is certain... Remission...Transplant...Cure.

One of the most difficult things Shannon has had to face is the reality that she will have to close the daycare she has poured her heart and soul into for the last 27 years.   As long as everything goes perfectly with the transplant, she will be recovering at home, but will have to go to the hospital 7 days a week for the first 60 days.  It will be a tough few months.  The doctors expect that she will feel herself again in approximately 6 months after the transplant.  Her heart is broken over having to close her business, but there is also a great financial burden that comes with the heartache.  We will be doing a Go Fund Me page for Shannon once we have a better idea as to when the transplant will take place. 

It has been a difficult year to say the least.  It is hard to sum it up in just a few paragraphs, but the time has come to reach out to all the people that love Shannon so dearly (and we all know there are many).  It is time for ALL of us to do what we can to help in the fight.  We will be using this site to post updates as the journey to her cure begins.  We will also be reaching out through this site for help with meals and details about the Go Fund Me page when the time comes.  We will be adding a lot of family and friends to this site, but at this time, please don't share this link with anyone.  Shannon still has some people she wants to talk with in person.  I will let you all know when you can share it.

Mom. Shan. Mimi. Sis. Dawa. Shannon. ShimSham. Aunt Shannon. Miss Shannon.  Shannon – you are always on the front line for us and now it’s our turn to help you fight the biggest fight of all.  You got this, Warrior!