My Niece, Shannon Is A Winner!!!

[Dave Coulier]

Even though Michigan State lost the championship game, my niece, Shannon is a winner. She's an inspiration to so many:

http://www.freep.com/article/20090406/SPORTS07/90406074

[DaveCoulierFan]

It's nice to see you support your outer family members so well... keep up the good work, Dave...

She is SO lucky to have you as an uncle... I wish I could be that close to you...

[LisaT]

Thats a wonderful article....very inspirational!
My favorite quote is:

“You can’t give the problem the attention,” Shannon said. “My focus is on health. Instead of saying that I’m fighting cancer, I say I’m doing things that make me really healthy. Don’t focus on what you don’t want. Focus on what you do want. You know, rather than being anti-war, be pro-peace.”


Thats a beautiful outlook. Im afraid things sound quite scary for her, but she IS a winner, and anyone who has been touched by her is lucky.
I will keep her in my prayers, Dave...and all of your family too...

[LisaT]

She is SO lucky to have you as an uncle... I wish I could be that close to you...



My guess is that Dave considers himself the lucky one....

[Scarlet]

She´s certainly a winner!! I have had cases of cancer in my family and it´s really not easy. I think it´s amazing when people find that strength deep inside them to fight the disease. The power of our minds is immense and we should use it more often to win our battles.

I wish Shannon and Dave and all the family all the best!
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a334/Scarlet_123/Emoticons/grouphug.gif

[TinkDncr82]

Wow. She really is an inspiration and I will keep her in my prayers. You must be her own personal distraction in so many good ways. Thanks for sharing the article with us! My best to you and your fam...

[TheManitou]

I lost my parents to lung cancer, years ago. It's an awful way to go.
My sister has worked at two different hospitals for over twenty years. She just sent me an article that says asparagus helps fight cancer, but the effects take several weeks. If Shannon doesn't like asparagus, it can be mixed in a blender into a health shake; add berries. Best wishes. I'll keep you all in my prayers.

Hart Michigan Asparagus Festival June 2009

[kaylee1319]

shannon's story is very inspirational...i will keep her in my thoughts.

[Krazyklubhead87]

Her story made me tear up a little but. Very inspirational. I wish her the best of luck, and I hope she pulls through.

[coolyay]

Shannon is my step-daughter (I'm married to Dave's sister, Karen). Shannon and her husband, Kevin, are the most positive and inspiring couple I've ever met. I'm proud to say she's my step-daughter!

Shannon has a well-written blog where all can keep up with her health lessons, sports stories, and her day to day battles. http://shannoniezzi.blogspot.com/


Wishing you the best, Shannon!

[TinkDncr82]

Wow thanks so much for sharing her blog address with us! I'm truly interested and inspired by these "chicken soup" stories if you will. With such a draining painful condition it's amazing she can stay strong and be such a bright light in the community and elsewhere. It's refreshing to see she has such a wonderful caring husband and family as well. I plan to keep up with her blog and my prayers and best to all who know her.

Shannon is my step-daughter (I'm married to Dave's sister, Karen). Shannon and her husband, Kevin, are the most positive and inspiring couple I've ever met. I'm proud to say she's my step-daughter!

Shannon has a well-written blog where all can keep up with her health lessons, sports stories, and her day to day battles. http://shannoniezzi.blogspot.com/


Wishing you the best, Shannon!

[angelwings]

Shannon is a inspration. She is a wise person. She is lucky to have such a wonderful loving, supportive family. Shannon is a winner. I will keep Shannon and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

[LisaT]

Thanks for the connection!

We are all wishing the best....without a doubt...
Ill be following the blog...
Warm wishes to you all...gotta love 'coolyay'...:D

[LisaT]

Wow...read the blog....WOW what a great woman she is...love Chloe too....;)

[motowngirl1967]

I'm keeping Shannon's struggle in my thoughts and prayers.

She is definitely a winner! Thank you for sharing her courage with us.

[TinkDncr82]

I know the blog makes it even more impressive. I've grown up around a lot of people int he medical field and a few people who sadly got cancer and have always had such a fear of it. Maybe I nkow too much. But, her blog is so positive and it's hard to believe. I wish there was something I could to do help. It's so hard to believe she's just a yaer or so older than me. It's so nice she is enjoying things so much though and appriciating it all as much as she can. That's cool she loves to dance because I do too. I read about her tap dancing grandma and thought that was awesomE! lol. That's quite a routine she has every day but if it helps in any way for her physicall or for her piece of mind then it's all worth it!! I will be following her blog and again wish the best for her and for her beautiful family.

[coolyay]

As the Free Press link will expire soon, here is the article:

Spartans bring joy to Rochester cancer patient
By Jason Whitlock • McClatchy Newspapers • April 6, 2009

It’s true. Sports teams touch people down deep. You know that. But you don’t really appreciate it until a team touches you or someone you care about in a special way.



My friend, Shannon Watson, is a Michigan State fan. She’ll be inside Ford Field tonight wearing a white Spartans T-shirt, hoping the Spartans trip up a third straight No. 1 seed and win the NCAA tournament.


Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and his Spartans have embraced the idea that their march to the Final Four and tonight’s title game is an inspiration to suffering Michiganders.


They’re right.


Shannon Watson, a 2003 Michigan State grad, is living with cancer. In the short time that I’ve known her, I’ve never seen her happier than during Michigan State’s tournament run.


Diagnosed with breast cancer on Oct. 13, 2005, Shannon has spent every day since thinking about the disease and what it is doing to her body. Re-diagnosed with metastasized breast cancer in June 2007, she has spent every day since looking for ways to beat cancer without turning to more radiation and chemotherapy.


We met a year ago at a vegan retreat in south Florida. She was learning how a raw, green diet could potentially stop cancer. I was learning how the same diet could melt away unwanted pounds. When we weren’t juicing wheatgrass or slurping down green vegetable drinks, we watched NBA playoff games, especially the Pistons, Shannon’s favorite professional team.


When you’re embracing a new lifestyle — particularly one you hope stops cancer — distractions are essential.


This Spartans’ run is perfectly timed. Shannon, 28, is going through a difficult stretch. A tumor-marker blood test came back with bad results. A family member is leaning on Shannon for support as the family member endures her own cancer scare.


The Spartans are a lifeline for Shannon and her husband, Kevin, also a Michigan State grad.


“I broke down bawling Thursday driving to the slam-dunk contest,” Shannon admitted. “This is such a roller coaster. I had an ultrasound taken last week, but I’m not calling for the results until after the tournament. I don’t want to know until after MSU wins.”


(2 of 2)


Watching Michigan State gives Shannon peace, an excuse to forget what doctors have told her about her cancer. They say it’s genetic and predicted its return. When she was re-diagnosed in 2007, the doctors told her she had 12 to 24 months to live.


“June 6 is going to be two years,” Shannon said. “I’m going to make it.”


If you met Shannon, you’d never guess she had cancer. When I met her, she wore a wig to hide her hair loss. Her hair is back now. She’s beautiful. She has the energy of a teenager and the courage of a Navy seal.


She doesn’t like talking about cancer. She writes about it on her blog. But she doesn’t like wasting her human interaction on negative conversation.


“You can’t give the problem the attention,” Shannon said. “My focus is on health. Instead of saying that I’m fighting cancer, I say I’m doing things that make me really healthy. Don’t focus on what you don’t want. Focus on what you do want. You know, rather than being anti-war, be pro-peace.”


And rather than focus on what she doesn’t have, Shannon makes the most of what she does — a loving husband, a wonderful home, the time to concentrate on optimum health. Before cancer, she had started a promising career as a businesswoman. Now she wants to be an inspiration to other breast-cancer survivors.


When we were at dinner Friday night, Shannon went to the bathroom, and Kevin shared with me the pain she’s been experiencing in her liver.


“She never complains,” Kevin said.


She embraces positive energy.


The Spartans are the source right now. They’re such a powerful source that Shannon forgets about cancer and her diet when the Spartans are playing. During Saturday’s game, she bought and ate a pretzel with cheese.


“I didn’t say anything to Kevin during the game about eating the pretzel,” Shannon said. “Usually, I would justify it by saying this is a once-in-a-lifetime event, but during the game, I was living in the moment.


“The Spartans take everything off my mind.”


I’m sure there are North Carolina fans with stories similar to Shannon’s. Just like there were Connecticut and Villanova fans taking inspiration from the Huskies and the Wildcats.


But the Tar Heels, Huskies and Wildcats didn’t get to play the Final Four in their home state, in a city steamrolled by the economic crisis and with a head coach selling his team as a symbol of hope.


Watching Michigan State gives Shannon peace, an excuse to forget what doctors have told her about her cancer. They say it’s genetic and predicted its return. When she was re-diagnosed in 2007, the doctors told her she had 12 to 24 months to live.


“June 6 is going to be two years,” Shannon said. “I’m going to make it.”


If you met Shannon, you’d never guess she had cancer. When I met her, she wore a wig to hide her hair loss. Her hair is back now. She’s beautiful. She has the energy of a teenager and the courage of a Navy seal.


She doesn’t like talking about cancer. She writes about it on her blog. But she doesn’t like wasting her human interaction on negative conversation.


“You can’t give the problem the attention,” Shannon said. “My focus is on health. Instead of saying that I’m fighting cancer, I say I’m doing things that make me really healthy. Don’t focus on what you don’t want. Focus on what you do want. You know, rather than being anti-war, be pro-peace.”


And rather than focus on what she doesn’t have, Shannon makes the most of what she does — a loving husband, a wonderful home, the time to concentrate on optimum health. Before cancer, she had started a promising career as a businesswoman. Now she wants to be an inspiration to other breast-cancer survivors.


When we were at dinner Friday night, Shannon went to the bathroom, and Kevin shared with me the pain she’s been experiencing in her liver.


“She never complains,” Kevin said.


She embraces positive energy.


The Spartans are the source right now. They’re such a powerful source that Shannon forgets about cancer and her diet when the Spartans are playing. During Saturday’s game, she bought and ate a pretzel with cheese.


“I didn’t say anything to Kevin during the game about eating the pretzel,” Shannon said. “Usually, I would justify it by saying this is a once-in-a-lifetime event, but during the game, I was living in the moment.


“The Spartans take everything off my mind.”


I’m sure there are North Carolina fans with stories similar to Shannon’s. Just like there were Connecticut and Villanova fans taking inspiration from the Huskies and the Wildcats.


But the Tar Heels, Huskies and Wildcats didn’t get to play the Final Four in their home state, in a city steamrolled by the economic crisis and with a head coach selling his team as a symbol of hope.

[cortneerose]

Very nice article; I especially like the part about being pro-peace instead of anti-war...sound advice we can all use. Thanks for sharing-

[LisaT]

Thanks for preserving the article.....

[Paula T]

The power of prayer is very strong. Shannon will be in my prayers. Each day in everyone's life is a gift, and she makes the most of that gift. Life really is never quite the same when you come to that realization. I know what she meant in her blog about the awe inspiring Grand Canyon. It can't be described or shown in photos. She's right. You have to breathe it in. I recommend it to all. And that trail she hiked is not so easy. I hiked the same trail and I worked very hard to get back to the top, and she wanted to hike more! God bless her!

[perfectspiker84]

Thats a really nice article. My thoughts will be with her. I know that damage of cancer. It runs rampid in my family.

[typhoontim]

Shannon is an example of what is right with our country. Go Shannon... all the best of luck in fighting... I know all of us here are pulling for you! :)

[MomRN]

Praying for Shannon and her family. She is definitely a winner!

[Carla]

Shannon's strength and courage are really inspiring. She is lucky to have such a wonderful family :) I will keep your niece and step daughter in my prayers. Thank you for sharing this with us!

[louie]

Dave,
thank you for sharing Shannon's story.. It definitely choked me up.. My mom also had breast cancer 10 years ago and is still in remission.
Shannon is brave and extremely inspirational and the article is something that many people in this country should read.
Too many people take things for granted.
Thanks again Dave

[Lisaloo73]

Shannon is such a determined young woman!! Seems she is definitely on the right track to getting well. All the best to her!

[LisaT]

CHECK OUT THIS LINK!!

http://web.me.com/iezzi/Site/Home.html

We can donate online...and hopefully lots of fans will...

Cheers to Shannon!!!

[KittyHawk84]

I read this story a few months ago, i was definetly misty-eyed. I want to make one of those bras.

[lulustripes]

I will pray for Shannon. Thank you for telling us.

[tdaniel.bryant]

I hate to say it, but this is so not my conversation.

[LisaT]

I hate to say it, but this is so not my conversation.

Whats that supposed to mean?

You must have replied for SOME reason....???

[tdaniel.bryant]

Ussually I would, but the bra talk is uncomfortable, but I will say this: YOU GO SHANNON. Oh and Dave, what sport does she play?

[LisaT]

http://shannoniezzi.blogspot.com/


Everyone should check this out....

[TinkDncr82]

Wait...was that possibly Dave's father...the grandfather she mentioned in her blog? (God forbid of course)

[kaylee1319]

Ussually I would, but the bra talk is uncomfortable

it's "bras for a cause" (i believe?). it's a great thing. :)

...and i guarantee you, a bra gives me much more discomfort than it does you. :)

(totally just messing with you...) ;)

[TheManitou]

Dear Dave,
Please, give us an update on Shannon. I hope she is fighting this... and WINNING!

[Scarlet]

That's awesome! A great cause indeed ;)

[Joe Cole]

Don't know if Dave reads this often or not- Dave-met you many times-orignally through Dave Debol and have seen you at Comedy castle here in Royal Oak many times. Always a fan-thanks for the laughs. I know you have several charities that you support and I would like to possibly be of service to them- I have started a company to to fundraising and may be able to help. joe cole

info@cardsforacausellc.com

[Scarlet]

I think my cat Chuvisco is willing to help...

P.s It wasn't me who put that on him lol

[TheManitou]

Scarlet, that is one cute cat!!!
Dave, how is Shannon? I've been thinking about her all evening with the passing of Patrick Swayze so fresh in the media. Please, PLEASE, tell me you have some good news... please. I hate cancer !!!

[coolyay]

The Bras for a Cause fundraiser was a huge success. It raised around $50,000 for Gilda's Club. Dave did a wonderful job hosting the event. Shannon discusses the event in her blog:

shannoniezzi@blogspotdotcom (replace the @ and Dot with a . )

By the way, Dave's dad is fine. It was her dad's father who passed away recently. Shannon was very close to him.

[Scarlet]

That's awesome Coolyay! I read Shannon's post and and I agree with her, "a determined mind can accomplish anything."! Wish her and the Coulier family all the best.

[LisaT]

All the love and respect she deserves.....and then some.

[TinkDncr82]

I'm not sure many of you know (and I feel bad I JUST found out last night) but Shannon passed in April (you can see her husband's beautiful words on her blog). We should all take a lesson from her kindness, patience and selflessness. I also want to extend my greatest sympathies to Dave and his family.