Shannon Helms

       SHARING HER STORIES

              Many of my friends are aware that  in 2010  my daughter, Shannon Leigh Helms, had a medical saga resulting in a paralyzed leg and foot. Some DKG members met her at various regional and international events as she has attended these with me from a young age. Many members met her in New York City when I was installed as international DKG president. The last seven to eight years have been filled with her heroic efforts to address the paralysis as well as trying to overcome other obstacles in her path. Some of those obstacles have been work related as well as the continuing medical problems. 

       This blog is to thank my DKG friends again for your thoughts and prayers for both of us as we were going through the initial saga. It is also to ask you to pray for her and keep her in your thoughts as she begins her journey of sharing her stories. 

   

        Shannon's phenomenal determination, persistence, courage, and a relentless compelling desire to inspire others serve as the impetus for her to begin to write her first book, and also to share her story in person.  She has accomplished what is considered medically impossible with regard to the use of her leg and foot. She is also in the process of addressing other work related obstacles that young women face in the workplace.

       My daughter is one of the strongest young women I know and having lived through this as her mother I know without a doubt that I would not have been able to do what she has done and still be inspired or motivated to help others. Shannon feels a calling to reach out to others with disabilities and who may be facing similar work related obstacles. Her desire is  to motivate them to realize that nothing is impossible. She has my support in her endeavors and I have even jokingly said I would co-author with her. She doesn’t need me, of course and our perspectives would be vastly different.  

        I am returning to blogging after a long hiatus as I, too, have stories to share and in many ways blogging is therapeutic for me.  I will always be grateful for your support and appreciate you keeping my daughter, Shannon, in your prayers and thoughts as she takes the initial steps forward to share her stories.