“Shannon doesn’t take walking for granted – not after 17 hip surgeries”
By Kathleen Stauffer
Shannon doesn’t take a walk in the park for granted. The 26-year-old Groton resident spent six years in a wheelchair. Now, she walks whenever she can.
Shannon soldiered through 17 hip surgeries and twice lived in full body casts from her legs to her stomach. “I got a lot of support from my family,” she said. “I really wanted to quit, but I couldn’t if I wanted to walk again.”
She’ll never forget the day she was recuperating on the couch and her mom, Sherrlyn, with a puppy named Bailey on her stomach. Bailey licked Shannon’s face. “At that point, we knew we needed that dog.”
Shannon grew up in Lebanon. She credits her family, her mom, dad Kieran, sister Madeleine and brother Emerson with helping her get through the multiple surgeries. She was bullied by one boy during her years in a wheelchair. Emerson, now in the U.S. Navy, and Madeleine always stood up for her. “They’re a very good brother and sister. I love them. They’re my best friends.”
Over the years, Shannon taught herself to knit and makes hats and scarves of vintage yarn. She gives some to friends and family, but she gives most to charities for children who otherwise would not have a warm hat.
Writing is another favorite hobby. “I write poems, and I’m making a book based on my life,” she said. Shannon’s poems do not rhyme. She scoffs at the notion that they might.
Her entire family supports The Arc Eastern Connecticut annually by walking in the Jack O’Keefe Memorial Strides Road Race at Camp Harkness. They will be there again at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 6.
“When I was in a wheelchair, I couldn’t do it,” she said. “Now, I can spring my wings out.” Shannon likes getting her heart rate pumping and has lost six pounds walking.
“I think people should go to Strides,” she said, “Hang out with your friends. Do a fun walk with your family.”
If you go to Camp Harkness park, you can meet Shannon. She’ll be walking. “I do not bite,” she said. “I’m very talkative. You can meet my family, too.”
Kathleen Stauffer is chief executive officer of The Arc Eastern Connecticut. For information on The Arc, go to www.thearcnlc.org and www.qvarc.org. For more articles by this author visit www.kathleenstauffer.com
