My name is Shawnn McFarland. I’m 35 years old, and three words I never expected to hear have turned my world upside down: "You have cancer."
Just a few months ago, I was focused on the same things most 35-year-olds think about—building my career, dreaming about the future, and enjoying life with the people I love. I felt invincible. But after weeks of unexplained fatigue and pain that I kept dismissing as "just stress," my body forced me to stop. After a battery of tests, the doctor sat me down and told me I have blood cancer.
In that moment, time stopped. My heart broke for my family, who looked at me with tears in their eyes but tried to stay strong for me. My mind raced through a million questions: Will I be okay? How will I afford this? What happens to the life I worked so hard to build?
I am now facing a long and difficult road of treatment. The battle ahead is not just physical and emotional—it is financial. Between hospital bills, medications, travel to appointments, and the simple reality that it’s harder to work while fighting for your life, the weight is crushing. I am a fighter, but I cannot win this war alone.
I am not used to asking for help. I’ve always been the one who shows up for others. But today, I am humbly asking you to show up for me. Your donation—no matter the size—will go directly toward life-saving treatment and keeping a roof over my head while I focus on getting better. It will lift a burden so I can put all my energy into beating this disease.
I refuse to let cancer steal my future. I am 35, and I have so much more life to live. Thank you for reading my story, for sharing it, and for any support you can offer. You are giving me the gift of hope, and that means more than words can say.
With gratitude,
Shawnn
