Neighbors across the North Shore are being invited to Sychar Lutheran Church on Sunday, Aug. 30, for a benefit brunch supporting Shannon Stegmeir. The brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is sponsored through a Thrivent Action Team Project.
It’s a simple gathering with a simple purpose: helping Shannon and her husband, Jim, with the costs of accessible transportation and ongoing care as they navigate the long recovery ahead.
Shannon has been recovering from a C5 spinal cord injury she sustained earlier this year. The injury left her paralyzed from the chest down, though she continues to move her arms and has regained enough wrist extension and pincer grasp to feed herself with adaptive silverware. Her family says she works daily to build strength and mobility.
Her sister-in-law, Judy Waxlax, said Shannon’s outlook has steadied everyone around her.
“She’s resilient,” Judy said. “She’s got that acceptance and grace and determination just to make the best of this new world that she’s in.”
Judy recalled talking to Shannon recently over the phone.
“She told me she was thinking about all the people that her injury has impacted,” Judy said. “So many people beyond her friends and family, people she doesn’t even know.”
That sense of perspective has become a kind of anchor for the people around her. Judy said Shannon talks often about her faith and the comfort she finds in it.
“She continually says how awesome her God is,” Judy said. “She says God is smiling down on her.”
Those moments of calm have helped the family through the harder days. At a recent reunion, relatives weren’t sure how to greet her, unsure of what would feel comfortable. Judy said Shannon reached out her arms to each person who approached, offering the same bright welcome she always has.
“She’s just still Shannon,” Judy said. “She set everybody at ease.”
Jim and Shannon have been married nearly twenty-five years. Judy said their generosity has always been a defining part of their marriage.
“They both are so giving and so caring about other people,” Judy said. “They’ll sacrifice for themselves to give to other people.”
She said Jim has worked tirelessly to make their home accessible.
The brunch menu includes egg bakes, fresh fruit, coffee cake, and muffins. The meal is being prepared by Shirley Van House and Laurie Danielson, both known locally for their cooking. Judy said the brunch is meant to be simple and welcoming, the kind of meal that brings people together without fuss.
Funds raised will help the family purchase a new handicap-accessible van. Their current vehicle is a 2005 model that has already quit once. Judy said parts inside the van are rusted and loosening, and the family needs a four-wheel-drive vehicle to safely navigate the Drummond Grade in winter.
“That van they have now is not going to make it,” Judy said.
The new van will be essential for medical appointments and everyday life once winter arrives. Judy said the family is grateful for the help they’ve already received, but the need remains significant. She hopes the brunch will bring in enough support to move the van project forward.
Judy also hopes people will learn about Cardinal Care, a home-care cooperative based in Two Harbors. She said many home-care companies have stopped serving the area, but Cardinal Care has been able to send nursing assistants to help Shannon at home.
Through all of this, Judy feels grateful that Jim and Shannon live only an hour away. She said she and her husband Dan visit often.
“She’s become a sister,” Judy said. “My brother who I love so much and love his wife just as much.”
Judy said she hopes people will make the drive, even if it means coming from farther up or down the shore. She said the brunch is open to anyone who wants to show support.
“It’s just going to be good food,” Judy said. “A simple brunch and a gathering of people who want to come.”
She said the family is hoping for a strong turnout, not only to help with the van but to show Shannon how many people are rallying for her.
If you are unable to make it to the brunch, consider donating to Shannon Stegmeir’s family’s GoFundMe. A reliable, safe vehicle is crucial for her transportation in the North Shore winter around the corner.
