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The Day Everything Changed
Life can change in an instant. For Shana Sissel, CEO of Banrion Capital Management, that moment came in July 2023. What started as a successful year in business quickly turned into an unimaginable journey of loss, illness, and ultimately, triumph.
“2023 was not a great year for me. I thought it was gonna be. It started off great. But in July of 2023, my partner died. Suddenly, he just went to bed one night and didn’t wake up at the age of 46,” Shana shares.
When Life Throws Everything at Once
Little did Shana know, this devastating loss was just the beginning. Soon after, she started experiencing severe back pain. Despite visiting six different doctors, no one took her symptoms seriously enough to order basic tests. They attributed her pain to grief and stress.
“Most doctors told me that it was just the stress and trauma of losing my partner,” Shana recalls. It wasn’t until the sixth doctor ordered an X-ray that the truth emerged – she had a compression fracture in her spine.
The Shocking Diagnosis
By Thanksgiving, Shana lost her ability to walk. An MRI revealed the devastating truth: cancer had shattered two vertebrae and fractured a third. Further tests confirmed stage 4 breast cancer – a shocking diagnosis for someone with:
- No family history
- No genetic predisposition
- A clear mammogram the previous year
- An overall low-risk profile
Leading Through Crisis
As a single mother to a nine-year-old son and CEO of a growing company, Shana faced impossible challenges. How do you run a business from a hospital bed? How do you maintain client confidence when you can’t even walk?
“Clients are deciding not to pay invoices because they’re concerned that something’s wrong with me and we won’t be able to support them. I’m struggling to make sure we can pay payroll,” Shana explains.
The Power of Community
In her darkest moments, something unexpected happened. A small but mighty group of supporters emerged:
- Her chief of staff flew in from Las Vegas
- Close friends refused to leave her hospital room
- Business colleagues sent care packages
- Even her son’s karate dojo community stepped up
“I didn’t know people actually cared this much about me. I didn’t know that I had people that cared. I am so grateful that this journey taught me that there are actually people who really cared about me that I had no idea,” Shana reflects.
The Road to Recovery
Despite the odds, Shana set ambitious goals for herself:
- Learn to walk again by June
- Keep her business running
- Beat cancer
- Celebrate with an epic birthday party in Vegas
Against all medical expectations, she achieved every goal:
- Ditched her walking cane by March
- Reached remission by April
- Became cancer-free by July
- Maintained and grew her business throughout
Lessons in Resilience
Shana’s journey offers valuable insights for anyone facing seemingly insurmountable challenges:
1. Accept Help
“I’ve always been a lone wolf. I’ve never asked for help. Never wanted to ask for help,” Shana admits. But accepting help became crucial to her survival and recovery.
2. Attitude Matters
“I kept my attitude in that I will get through this and I will be fine and never wavered,” she shares. This mindset played a crucial role in her recovery.
3. Quality of Life Counts
“Living just to live versus actually living are two different things,” Shana emphasizes. She worked with her medical team to maintain quality of life throughout treatment.
The Business Impact
Despite the personal crisis, Shana’s business didn’t just survive – it thrived:
- Continued bringing on new advisors
- Launched successful MVP
- Expanded client base
- Maintained media presence
Connecting with Shana
Today, Shana shares her story to inspire others facing their own challenges. You can follow her journey and insights on:
A Message of Hope
“My life changed in the blink of an eye for the worse, but in the same sense, it changed in the blink of an eye for the best through the worst,” Shana reflects. Her story reminds us that even in our darkest moments, hope and strength can emerge from unexpected places.
Final Thoughts
Shana’s message to others going through tough times: “Everybody’s going through something all the time. And we as human beings should be cognizant of that.” Her journey proves that with the right support system and mindset, we can overcome even the most challenging circumstances.
Remember: Whether you’re facing health challenges, business difficulties, or personal loss, you’re not alone. Like Shana, you might discover strength you never knew you had and support from places you least expected.
Through sharing her story, Shana continues to inspire others in both business and life, proving that our greatest challenges can become our most powerful turning points. Her journey from crisis to comeback serves as a beacon of hope for anyone facing their own seemingly impossible obstacles.