Hello! My name is Shannon Clark. I’m writing this due to an upcoming complicated open-heart surgery that I’m having on June 25th, 2025. This surgery is rare. It is a life or death outcome. Although the doctors are confident, there are a lot of unknowns while in the OR. My body has been through a lot. This surgery is happening due to my triple bypass on August 2, 2023. As a result of healing, my sternum, which had rods to fuse both sides of the bone together, didn’t fuse. My sternum is split in half and held together by scar tissue, which leaves a gap in the middle. This has caused a lot of pain and clicking in my chest. This wasn’t discovered until January 15, 2024, when a medical emergency brought me to the ER and they ran a lot of tests. In February, I was told about this condition. After waiting several months to see two surgeons, they then told me to lose weight and get my A1C down for a better chance to live, and we would revisit talking about it in 3 months. I’m not ashamed to admit that I have severe mental health issues. When that next visit came up, he again wanted better results. In short, he didn’t want to do the surgery on me and just led me on after several phone calls to his office. After talking with my PCP, she recommended getting a second opinion. I have a lot of medical issues that will factor in on this type of surgery. She recommended that I go to Boston for a consultation. After several calls with the surgeon, I have decided to go to Boston for the surgery. Yesterday was my pre-op appointment. We asked to talk to a caseworker for assistance and resources we could use so my husband and daughter could be with me during this stay. Unfortunately, this is not available until I get admitted. So, talking with my therapist today, she recommended a few resources to look into. This being the top of her list for me to do. These funds will be used for the week of surgery and aftercare that my husband and daughter will NOT get paid for. Plus, hotel stays and food while staying in Boston. My husband’s employer doesn’t have a benefit for short-term leave with pay. He will have to file for FMLA to keep his job while he tends to me. If I come through the surgery, I will need round-the-clock care for at least a few weeks. Then, I will have to travel to Boston for my check-ups every 2 weeks. I was told that we would not be able to apply for assistance because there is nothing out there for this type of situation. We have a mortgage and car payment that need to be paid along with miscellaneous ones. My disability check will not cover everything. With the support of my husband and daughter, we barely get by now. I’m really having a hard time making this page because we all have struggles that we’re dealing with. If anyone has resources or ideas that you’ve been through, please drop them to us. Anything will help. Maybe a meal train, groceries, gift cards to Hannaford or Walmart. I’m more worried about my family if by chance I don’t make it out of surgery. The medical bills plus everything else will be astronomical and my family will lose everything.
Thank you for reading my story and considering helping my family get through this difficult time.
All donations will be going to us only. With any resources you know that we can apply for or look into, please send them to Facebook Messenger under Alan Clark or Shannon Clark (the profile of Alan & I in blue).
With a grateful heart, I thank you again for all the love and support that you can help us get through all of the unknown.
