Reflections
on Shannon, 10/13/00
“Am I going to die today?”
That was the first question Shannon asked Dr. Coleman on 2/11/99 when he
told us she had leukemia. Susan,
Teresa and I sat quietly, tears in our eyes, stunned by the news. But, of
course, Shannon immediately set the tone for the upcoming battle by following
with the question “Or is there something that we can do about it?”
I promised in my last update a few days after Shannon’s death to share
with you at a later date some thoughts and reflections about the many ways God
blessed Shannon and her family during the very difficult 15 months in which she
battled acute leukemia.
The biggest blessings of all during this
enormous trial were that Shannon grew much closer to her Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ, and that her testimony and faith proved to be such an inspiration to so
many who followed her story. From a
human perspective, we were all truly blessed that Shannon did not die on
February 11, 1999. God, in His
goodness and mercy, gave Shannon and us a gift—15 additional months
together—to talk, laugh, love, weep, rejoice, and eat sushi! This
extraordinary gift takes on special meaning after reading in the paper last
month about the young 20-year-old University of Georgia student from Marietta,
Georgia who died from acute leukemia less than 24 hours after he reported
feeling ill. It was a blessing when
Shannon achieved remission in March, 1999 and that she enjoyed several months of
relative “normalcy” before relapsing November 18.
During those months, her zest for life became amplified in how she
approached relationships and in the ways she seized the opportunities God gave
her.
In March, Shannon traveled with Teresa and me
to Albany, Georgia to close the sale of her house and to visit with many friends
she had made in the five years she lived there.
During April and May, she took joy in drawing the plans and supervising
the installation of an herb garden and cobblestone walkway at our house, and in
surprising Teresa by finishing some sheetrock and painting the utility room.
In June, Shannon traveled with us to Florida to visit relatives, and was
able to spend time with my Mom who died a couple of weeks later at age 92.
Shannon reflected in an email during that trip about how having leukemia
had given her the motivation to do some things she always wanted to do but never
really took the time, and encouraged others to do the same.
She said, “I could go on and on and I’m pleased to say that my short
life is already full of great experiences, and if I died tomorrow, I’d do it
with a smile on my face.” But God blessed her with additional time….so how did she
use it?
In late July, she departed for a dream
vacation to Paris, France with her aunt and uncle from Tallahassee, and returned
home in August with a glow on her face! In
September, Shannon continued her search in earnest for a career-oriented and
challenging job, and then in October she had the opportunity to renew
friendships with old classmates at their 10th high school reunion.
A very special moment in Shannon’s life at the time then took place, as
she left our house beaming on the morning of November 1 to begin the “perfect
job” with Sprint PCS. A couple of weeks later, she dressed up in my old
‘bulldog helmet’ pants and headed off to Athens with a dear friend to attend
the Georgia vs. Auburn football game, just five days before relapsing.
And though it was a difficult Thanksgiving season, Shannon faced this
latest setback with the same positive, energetic attitude that was her standard.
Having lived with her Mom and Teresa and me at
different times during the year, she moved into her own apartment in December.
It was a real concern that Shannon might not achieve a second remission
and could die before Christmas. In
Shannon’s update on December 19, 1999, she discussed her need for a bone
marrow transplant and noted, “I have a chromosomal disorder that is making it
more difficult for me to find a match. Some
say bad luck; I say ‘God made me special!’”
He certainly did, and God granted us additional time.
Wanting to be around ‘normal’ people to
celebrate on New Years’ eve (even with some nervousness about being around so
many germs!), Shannon and her brother, Scott, went to a party and had a
wonderful time. Shannon was then inspired to initiate a bone marrow drive that
would increase the donors on the national registries that could potentially help
hundreds of people with leukemia and other diseases.
On February 6, 2000 it was a blessing that 420 new donors came forward to
meet the challenge, and two days later Shannon’s doctor called to say she was
again in complete remission. However,
it was again a critical time in that Shannon could die soon if a suitable bone
marrow donor was not located. Having
been in a holding pattern waiting on an acceptable match, Shannon received a
call from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA with news that a
suitable match had been found and the transplant could be scheduled.
With the news of being in remission and having a suitable donor, Shannon
reported on her website that day, “I’d say God is working overtime for me
this week!” She was then
scheduled for a bone marrow transplant at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in
Boston. The pre-transplant
treatment, preparation, and the transplant itself were all potentially lethal,
but on March 18 the transplant was infused and Shannon survived.
God granted us additional time.
The first several weeks post-transplant were
critical as her body dealt with the effects of the chemotherapy, whole body
radiation, and the new marrow. Patients
with no major complications are usually able to leave the hospital around day
28-30 post-transplant, but must remain close at hand to receive treatment for
various and frequent problems. A
longer-range goal of patients is to make it through 100 days post-transplant;
it’s at that point that a patient can usually return home.
Although Shannon had some horrendous days during the first three weeks,
she did not face a critical situation until April 8 when she was close to being
placed on life support. Thankfully,
the doctors were able to get the problems under control. God granted us additional time.
April 20 was a tough day.
Shannon was past day 30 post-transplant and expected to be able to leave
the hospital by then. Though close
to being physically able to leave, Shannon began wondering if she would ever
really be well enough. With tears
flowing from her eyes, she kept saying, “I just want to go home, I just want
to go home.” God answered our
prayers, and she was discharged to our Boston apartment the next day – Good
Friday. For 18 memorable days until
she was readmitted to the hospital for the final time May 9, Shannon was at our
apartment, regaining her strength and enjoying life once again.
She was able to walk outside, take several sightseeing drives, and enjoy
a picnic with her Mom, Grandmother, other Boston relatives, and her boyfriend.
The last 15 months of Shannon’s life were,
for her and for her family, days of tremendous struggle, anguish and grief.
They were also days of amazing happiness, joy and triumph.
In our helplessness and weakness we experienced our God’s marvelous
sustaining power and strength. At
every critical juncture of the journey, God lifted us up when we were beaten
down. He gave us measure upon measure of time to share with this special woman
He allowed to pass through our lives. We
will be forever grateful for her life and for the joy she brought to ours in so
many, many ways. We look forward
with great anticipation to the day when we shall be reunited with her! Until
then, we remember Shannon with love, joy and peace in our hearts.
In His love,
Stuart Mosher
In Memory of Shannon Mosher
a message from Stuart Mosher
|
Our precious Shannon, a child of God, went to be with her heavenly Father this morning on this beautiful sunny day in Boston. While we grieve deeply over our loss as it effects us personally here on earth, we rejoice that Shannon is no longer in pain and that she is now experiencing the glory of heaven. No more excruciating medical procedures, multiple medications and anxiety over what comes next. Our darling daughter is now healed.
The memories and gifts Shannon leaves behind to her family, friends and even to many who have not personally met her, but have been encouraged by her story, are too many to list. But several are special: her exceptional smile; her bubbling personality; her beauty, with or without hair; her upbeat attitude; her sense of humor; her courage in the face of trials; her zest for life; her love for sushi; her faith in God; her fetish for hats; her love of her job; her optimism and confidence; her spontaneity; her inspiration to others; her love as a daughter and sister; and her ability to cultivate instant friendships.
It has been a long, difficult struggle the past 15 months, but in so many ways the journey was the best of her life. I'd like to reflect on this in some depth at a later date after things return to some level of normalcy for us; perhaps you will find it uplifting and encouraging in some way. Let me close by sharing Shannon's favorite scripture, which she repeated often and held close to her heart over the past 15 months: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Shannon may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - Bone Marrow Transplant Research, in memory of Shannon Mosher, 1309 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02446.
Your prayers for our family are appreciated.
Stuart
5/20/00
Further Thoughts from Stuart
|
 |