Dear Friends,

            It is with heavy heart that we reach out to you today. Let us unite as a community to provide support and assistance to our dear friends. Your generosity can help ease the financial burdens associated with medical bills, transportation, and daily expenses, allowing them to focus on recovery.

 As you may know our Friends Ricky and Shannon were involved in a serious motorcycle accident on November 7, 2025 while in route to a Benefit food drive for our local community. Ricky and Shannon were both ejected from the motorcycle, conditions were not favorable to fly them so they were both ground transported to University of Maryland Shock Trauma. After being examined it was determined that Ricky sustained significant road rash, torn meniscus staying one night in the hospital.  Ricky was released and sent home to rest.   Shannon was found to have a fractured sternum, two broken ribs, broken bones in her left hand and internal bleeding. After examination and imaging, it was determined that she had a lacerated spleen with three active aneurysms. The surgeon determined that the next best route to preserve some of the spleen function undergo an embolization and coiling procedure to try and stop the bleeding in her spleen which was done on November 9th, 2025. Unfortunately, this procedure was not successful resulting in major abdominal surgery for the full removal of her spleen on November 17,2025. She spent 6 days in the Intensive Care Unit, with the remaining 11 days in the step-down acute care unit with Ricky staying by her side night through her entire stay. They are both finally home as they try to endure this long road of recovery. 

Shannon is trying her to stay hardest to stay in good spirits but has a very long recovery road ahead of her.  With her unable to return back to work right away and having to undergo therapy once cleared by surgeon, she is very worried about when she will be fully able to return to work. For those of you who may not know Shannon is a Physician Assistant in the ICU and comes in contact with very sick patients on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the spleen is the major organ in your body that fights infections and plays a quality role in her career. She will now have to adapt to a new life style taking all precautions to keep herself healthy. Her not being able to return to work is placing them in financial hardship and adding stress where it is not needed. 

Both Shannon and Ricky have a such a love for each other and the life they have built together. They both enjoy riding horses, diving, traveling, camping, taking care of the farm and animals and yes even riding motorcycles with friends and family. Unfortunately, due to the severity of her injuries Shannon is very concerned about what activities and pastimes their future hold as this is true sign from God that they both need to slow down and “Smell the Roses”.  Being that Ricky was found “Not at Fault” and the motorcycle was totaled through their insurance company any passenger involved in the accident is not covered by any medical, nor pain and suffering compensation.

However, it's not just about the money we understand that the Holiday Season is upon us, but the true importance lies in providing them with the peace of mind to focus on their recovery without the constant worry of mounting bills and expenses. It's about giving them the chance to fight this battle without the added stress of financial hardship.