Shaunessy K. — A Search for Answers

Shaunessy K.'s family lived in Arvada for ten years. From one of their homes, which she describes as downwind, the family could see the Rocky Flats plant from the back porch. Her father was healthy and active when an injury eventually led to additional medical testing. Doctors found a large mass in his heart. After approximately two months of testing, he was diagnosed with cardiac angiosarcoma. The cancer spread to seven places in his body. He underwent aggressive treatment for 13 months and died in May 2015 at age 56. Shaunessy had just completed her Master of Public Health degree and moved home to help her family. As they began talking with people in the neighborhood, they heard other stories about unusual illnesses. The family then learned of a young person living only blocks away who had been diagnosed with the same rare heart cancer. Her father believed Rocky Flats was connected to his illness and encouraged Shaunessy to keep asking questions. That search led her to Tiffany Hansen and Rocky Flats Downwinders.