April 8, 2020 (part 2)

Happy Wednesday- for those of you still keeping track of the days of the week. This is my rewrite. I spent 20 minutes writing up what today has been like in the world of #shannonstrong2020, and then deleted the entire thing. Why? Because being pessimistic isn't helpful. Because you are already reading lots of things about how horrible the world is right now, and I was becoming more and more angry as I wrote. So here is April 8, 2020 (part 2) v2.0.

As I shared earlier, Shannon's Covid test came back negative again, and it was no surprise, again. We knew she didn't have it. It was just a precaution. Today is Precaution Wednesday. Along with that happy but unsurprising news, we were also told that they are going back to isolation mode to keep Shannon safe. While it's super frustrating for both us and especially for Shannon to have her confined to her room; we do appreciate that they are being so very cautious with her since she has a trach, and a ventilator, and issues with her lungs. She DOES NOT need to get sick with anything. So she's in lock down.

What does that mean for Shannon? She will still get her therapy every day, but it will happen in her room. She has limited staff coming in, so that limits what she's allowed to have help with. When you are stuck in a chair or a bed all day because your legs are currently paralyzed, that means, not much to do. I was told that she will continue to receive respiratory, occupational, physical, recreational, and speech therapies. No more horticultural because she can't go on the roof anymore (no fresh air), and the person who does music therapy is not currently working. She may be able to do art therapy, but not every day. Her nurses still come in  (all hazmat gowned up) and take care of her, and *might* be able to help her with other things, but for the most part, she's alone. That breaks my heart. Truly.

I want to say that Shannon is strong and this won't faze her, but I've already seen that it's taking it's toll on her. She hasn't  out to any of us like she has been, doesn't want to facetime or text us. She's just sad. And she has every reason to be.

If you want to take some time and send Shannon a note or something to help brighten her days, message me however you normally do for her address. She needs some sunshine in her life.

Tomorrow after dinner we are joining in another world-wide fast to end the rapid spread and other effects of covid-19. If you'd like to participate, the world needs some relief from all of this. Fasting is usually skipping 2 meals, or 24 hours. We will begin after dinner and not eat again until dinner on Friday night. (Lancer is fasting until dinner on Easter Sunday).

Please pray for Shannon to be uplifted and have a positive outlook on her situation, to help her lungs to stay healthy and her muscles to gain the strength she needs to make her lungs function on their own, and for her to no longer need the trach. Pray for her to be strong and have endurance to get through this. Pray for her spinal cord to heal, and for her to not feel alone. Several of you have reached out to us the last several days, and we thank you for that. It's a very lonely place; earth these days. Thank you all for your continued prayers, love, and friendship.


“I know not who you are, or how I came to find you, but may I just say … hi. How ya doin’? The name’s Flynn Rider. How’s your day goin’, huh?”

-Tangled.