If you ask 100 Mile House resident Shannon Pennicott who her best friend in the whole world is, she will most likely tell you it’s talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.
“She just doesn’t know it,” says the spunky 43-year-old, who, over the past 16 months has turned to DeGeneres, in a virtual sense, for inspiration that has kept her going in a time of darkness and uncertainty.
Life threw a wrench into Shannon’s hopes and dreams in November 2011, when she was given the shocking news she had cervical cancer.
The prognosis was not good, but, fortunately, further testing revealed it was non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which although a cancer, wasn’t as threatening as the first diagnosis.
However, she still required cancer treatments, which left her without energy or hair, and laden with fears and uncertainty about what the future would bring.
When Shannon began her cancer treatments, she spent considerable time at home resting and recuperating after each one. She filled many of the empty hours in front of the television, and tuned in daily to The Ellen DeGeneres Show for inspiration. It became an escape to a happy place when her own gloomy circumstances had her down.
“She made me laugh at a time I really needed it. Her philosophy in life is to laugh, be kind to others, and just have fun. It was truly an hour to laugh and have fun. It was good for my husband and kids to see me happy.”
When Shannon had treatments scheduled in Vancouver, she knew she would miss episodes, so she bought a PVR to record the shows and watch them on her return.
“I’d always been a fan, but with work and kids and no PVR, I had no time to watch the show before. Now, I’m just hooked on it. She inspires me to be a better person.”
Another life-changing form of inspiration came one year ago when Shannon was in a Vancouver grocery store after a round of chemotherapy treatment.
“I was feeling my worst. I had no hair, lots of people were staring, and I was just feeling crappy.”
A young woman with an enviably long ponytail caught her eye.
“She was wearing running shoes and shorts and she was sweaty, so I knew she had just come in from a run, but she had so much energy, and I had none.”
It was that moment Shannon decided she would take up running as soon as her normal energy returned.
“I promised myself I would use that energy and not ever take it for granted again.”
She joined a local fitness club and showed up for her first class, weak and worried she wouldn’t be able to keep up. Instead, she found new friends, and through them, an overwhelming support for her and her battle.
Running was part of the workout and slowly she built up her stamina to the present point where she runs up to five kilometres, twice-weekly with her class, and once or twice a week on her own for up to 20-km.
With the running, came more energy, and now she pushes to see how far she can go.
“It’s hard, but doable. I feel really good after.”
With the energy, came a desire and confidence she could travel to Los Angeles to watch a live taping of Ellen, if she could just get tickets.
It’s now turned into a burning desire.
“I just appreciate what she’s done for me and I enjoy hearing about what she does for others. I may not be more deserving than others, but I don’t know if anyone wants tickets more than me.”
Shannon e-mailed a request for the first-come, first-served complimentary tickets for the Feb. 14 show, but was unsuccessful.
Disappointed, but more determined than ever to see the show live, Shannon has put in another request for an April taping, and she has the support of many friends who know how much it would mean to her.
Along with sending Ellen personal requests for tickets on behalf of Shannon, they posted a simple request on Facebook for volunteers to help them with a scheme that would draw attention to Shannon’s wish.
The Facebook request worked, as on a cold and blustery winter’s day in February, 35 people of all ages gathered outdoors in a snowy field to create a visual plea for show tickets.
With them came a crane truck and a photographer who snapped photos as the others lie in the snow, using their bodies to form the letters of their message.
The message simply spelled out, “Ellen DeGeneres,” but other photos were taken of the group holding signs which constitute a message asking for the coveted tickets.
Shannon is overwhelmed by their kindness.
“My friends know I’m addicted to Ellen. I talk about her a fair bit and I feel like she’s my friend. When someone helps you that much, it’s hard not to feel a connection.”
It’s not just the show that has helped Shannon cope. She was also uplifted by a book written by DeGeneres, which she read while undergoing cancer treatments in January.
“I read it and I laughed. At that moment, I felt like she wrote that just for me.
“It really helped me through everything. And watching her show, you realize there are other people out there struggling more than you, who are much worse off.”
