Heather's Story
Heather Shanahan was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma last September. Heather and Joe had just celebrated their first wedding anniversary a few weeks earlier, when they learned that Heather had a tumor pressing on her heart. After six challenging rounds of chemo, her doctor reported that she was in remission. However in April, Heather found a golf-ball sized lump in her neck. Apparently the lymphoma had returned within a month and was surgically removed. In July, just 10 days after completing two difficult rounds of high-dose chemo, a third tumor was found. She is currently undergoing yet another type of high-dose chemo to put her cancer into remission.
This is extremely rare, especially considering her age. As a result, her treatment is swift and aggressive. Hopefully, the process for an autologous stem cell transplant will be resumed at the end of August at the Medical College of Wisconsin. We anticipate that Heather will be hospitalized for at least three to four weeks and will need to remain in Milwaukee for an additional two or three weeks. This treatment is often a patient's best hopes for a cure.
To compound their difficulties, her daughter Madison (age 8) has serious disabilities. She is missing the connective tissue between the left and right halves of her brain (Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.) Heather and Joe’s attitude and endurance have been remarkable, however to use her recent words “my path forward is going to be a bit of a struggle.”
As family and friends who care about Heather, Joe and Madison deeply, we are trying to channel all of our worry and disbelief into positive energy and action. Please join cyclists from around the area in the Ride for Heather on Sunday, August 31st. We thank you with all of our hearts.