Shannon McCarthy

Shannon Parker McCarthy was a gentle and beautiful spirit who touched the lives of everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. Most touched by Shay’s love and spirit were her parents, Denise and Kevin McCarthy, and her beloved younger brother, Alex. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ken and Vera Parker, Myrtle McCarthy and Tom McCarthy. She is survived by her extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins.

Shay’s life began with her birth at Bronson Hospital on June 23, 1989. She had a rough time very early in her life, when an aneurysm ruptured in her brain when she was only a week old. Emergency surgery in Ann Arbor saved her life, and she became a bit of a celebrity at the U of M Hospital because she was the youngest patient ever to have a brain aneurysm rupture and survive surgery to clip the aneurysm. Unfortunately, quite a bit of damage had been done, resulting in a severe form of epilepsy. She made a miraculous recovery, and for a few years was even able to walk. During the time she could walk, she wore a pink helmet that her mom creatively decorated, particularly around holidays. At one point, she had developed enough to attend the Gagie School.

At age 6, Shay began to attend the Croyden Avenue School, which was a godsend to Shay and her family. Throughout the 17 years she attended Croyden and then WoodsEdge Learning Center, she loved her daily bus rides and the doting attention of the bus drivers who all took an active interest in her. She also loved and was loved by the many teachers, aides and staff who cared for her.

Over time, her epilepsy progressed, to the point where her mobility became limited and her vocabulary was reduced. She could always, however, make known what she was thinking with one-syllable words. “Ma,” “da” and “Aah” were the members of her family. When she had enough of an activity, a stern “bye” would signify that it was time to stop. “Car” meant it was time to go for a ride. Shannon’s nickname of “Shay” came from how she pronounced her full name.

The epilepsy caused a seizure disorder that interfered with all of her activities. She spent the 23 years of her too-short life bravely fighting through those challenges while bringing joy to the many people who loved and spent time with her. Her family has always considered her to be the bravest and toughest person they ever met, based on how she repeatedly persevered in the face of these challenges and kept smiling and laughing after recovering from surgery after surgery.

Shay lived at home with her family until she was 21, at which time she moved into a residential facility operated by Residential Opportunities, Inc. (“ROI”). She and her roommate developed a close relationship, with Shay being the entertainment and Sarah being the well-entertained audience.

Although Shay had multiple disabilities, she had an incredible ability to be enthusiastic about the people and things she loved. She was particularly enthusiastic about her family as well as her school, church and ROI families. Among her special loves were Winnie the Pooh, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, her Kidsongs videos and McDonald’s happy meals – especially the French fries. In fact, one Halloween, she dressed up as a bag of McDonald’s fries!

She was also an ambassador for disabled persons. Her mother regularly took Shay in her wheelchair to visit Alex’s elementary and middle schools, where kids learned from Shay that people with disabilities are actually people who have feelings and are capable of loving and interacting with others.

Shannon’s outside family includes the community at WoodsEdge Learning Center (formerly Croyden Avenue School), which she attended for 17 years, her many special bus drivers over the years through Portage Public Schools, and her friends at Osterhout. There are so many people who loved and supported her that it is impossible to even try to name them. Shay’s family is incredibly grateful to all those who enormously enriched her life.

Shay’s trek through life was also made easier by her church family at Portage United Church of Christ. She loved coming to church and listening to music, particularly from the bell and covenant choirs. During her various hospital stays and medical treatments, her friends at PUCC repeatedly gave much needed emotional support to our family, which we have always appreciated.

All of these people helped to make Shay’s life as happy as it possibly could be. In return, she enriched them with her heart-melting smile and contagious laugh, as well as with her whole-hearted, intense hugs. Her family will miss her enormously and is so humbled and grateful to have been able to share in her life for 23 years.

Shannon passed away peacefully at Bronson Hospital in the arms of her parents on March 20, 2013. Her family now envisions her in Heaven, where her grandmothers have patiently been waiting to eternally hug and kiss her.