Shannon Goode
Hairstylist/Wedding Hair Specialist

Shannon is a licensed hairstylist with over 10 years of professional experience. Since 2002, she has focused her work on keeping up with the latest trends and styles.  After working in a salon, as well as, working with a leading hair product company, she has decided to focus more on what makes her happy.   Shannon has helped hundreds of women and their wedding parties have and maintain beautiful hair for their special day.  She has a great passion for creating ravishing hair!

She currently lives in central Ohio with her husband and three children.

Shannon is also currently working with a company called “Home Helpers”.  Home Helpers is a service that goes in and helps those who may need an extra hand.  Shannon goes in to provide hair services to those who can’t get out as easily as they used to.

Our Quest with Breast Cancer

In July of this year, 2008, we found out that my mom had breast cancer.  It turned our world upside down instantly.  It is so amazing how everything in life seems to be going so great and then all of a sudden you hit a brick wall.  Breast Cancer does not run in our family, thank God.  So, this was quite a shock.  Before we knew it she had to get into her OB/GYN, who in turn sent her to a specialist immediately.  They did some biopsies and confirmed that yes, she definately had cancer.

My poor mom, she said it was torture.  Her world was just spinning around so fast, she couldn’t even understand what was going on.  She said by the time they were done with her, she was ready to run out of that place.  I can’t imagine the feeling.

They scheduled a date for her surgery.  This all happened in a matter of two weeks.  They wanted to get her into surgery as soon as they possibly could.  So, the next couple of weeks, while waiting for the day of the surgery, our minds were spinning.  We tried to think positive, then would be overwhelmed with grief and confusion.

The day of her surgery was quite a roller coaster.   Mom had to go to the surgeon and get wires stuck in her breast were the cancer was located.  I guess it was pretty brutal.  My aunt said she had to leave the room a couple times.  They gave Mom some medication and we were on our way to the hospital.

Waiting at the hospital was quite sobering.  Thoughts of good and bad raced through our minds.  Emotions were hard to control.  We all tried to stay strong for one another.  It was quite wonderful to have such a strong supportive family be together and care for each other.

After a couple hours, the doctor came out and told us what happened.  Everything went really well.  They were able to get all the cancer.  They also took 8 lymph nodes that looked precarious.  All together the surgeon took out about the size of a golf ball (not including the lymph nodes).  The plastic surgeon worked to make everything look beautiful as it ever did, if not better.  Mom stayed over night to heal from the surgery.

When we went to pick her up the next morning, she was up and running around.  She was brushing her teeth and her hair.  She looked a lot better the second day.  It really gave us hope to see her up and getting around ok.  I stayed with her the next couple days.  It was amazing to have the opportunity to be able to help my mom in any way possible.

The lymph nodes came back fine.  The cancer had not spread!  Hallelujah!!!!!!!

After about 3 weeks of being more tired and sore than ever, she seems to be doing just fine.  All check ups have gone well.

Chemo was recommended.  However, only four treatments.  You know, I don’t think that is so bad.  It could be worse.  That is just for precaution, in case there happened to be any bit of cancer left over.

The first treatment of chemo was quite an experience.  My wonderful, amazing aunt took my mom for her first treatment.  They took her blood to check her white blood count, which I guess was lower than they would have wanted.  But, thank God they were able to do treatment and give her a boost of immunity the next day.

When they began to administer the chemo treatment, a massage therapist came and massaged mom’s legs and feet.  What a treat!  She really deserves to be pampered.  This special treatment was courtesy of the IWIN Foundation.  This really helped to help take her mind off the process.

The chemo treatments take 4 hours.  Sounds horrendous, huh!  I guess it went pretty fast.  The nurses are amazing.  There was a voluteer who came and entertained my mom and aunt while she received the treatment.  They said they popped in a movie when they first got there and never even got to watch it!  What a blessing!

You know, nobody asks to get such a terrible disease.  But how absolutely outstanding the circumstances can be.  We have met so many inspiring people.  We probably would not have met them without a situation like the one we have been in.  Hopefully, we can use this to help others!  This is now our mission!

Our mission is now to make the world a better place, one person at a time!  We will be warriors and approach any scary situation with our heads held high!  God is AWESOME!  I don’t care what anyone says, God is the only reason something so bad can turn out so absolutely AMAZING!

Let me know your story!