Why Are We Doing This? What is Shawn's Anomaly?

Recently, I had a very close friend Garrett Oakley sign up for Team Shawn's Anomaly to help raise money for the mission as he trains to compete in the Kemah Sprint Triathlon.  I can't tell you how honored to have him as a part of Team Shawn's Anomaly.  Garrett has a huge heart, and a great support from his wife, future baby on the way, friends, and family.   I know that this event will be the most rewarding event that he has ever been a part of.  If you know Garrett, I hope you can show your support to his fundraising effort as he trains to reach his goal.  Just watching his fundraising page really encourages me that the Shawn's Anomaly mission is being completed with every dollar given, every hour we spend training, and every volunteer hour that is given. I am so excited for Garrett for his dedication and finding his Reason2Race. 

Sometimes I feel it is important to reiterate the mission and retell the story.  If you have heard this, then, don't worry about reading the next few paragraphs.  On second thought,  you might want to just to get acquainted again with the mission:

What do you do when you find out that your child was born a condition so rare that the doctors did not have a name for it? What do the doctors do? When my son, Shawn, was born, nobody really knew what to do, and that left my wife and me feeling completely helpless and alone. Unfortunately this is not an isolated case, and many families will continue to deal with this same situation unless something is done.


Shawn was born with two urethras. His condition was discovered by accident because they could not properly catheterize him for another surgical procedure at 10 days old. Approximately 200 cases have ever been recorded for this condition, and Shawn’s was the first ever at Texas Children’s Hospital. This along with other conditions demanded 3 life threatening surgeries before he was 14 months old.

Lawrence Cisek, MD

Fortunately we had some of the best doctors in the world taking care of my son at Texas Children’s Hospital. Under leadership of Dr. Lawrence Cisek, a team of doctors studied the existing cases to come up with a groundbreaking strategy to surgically repair Shawn. All of Shawn’s surgeries have been deemed a success so far, but he will continually be monitored for the rest of his life.


Unlike other conditions such as autism, pediatric cancer, etc., Shawn's congenital anomalies have very little research, but have affected so many other children. We feel there are so many more, but there are not proper diagnostic procedures.


Modern medicine does not have a definitive answer to this issue. This sobering fact should call all of us to action to prevent another family from ever going these heart wrenching moments again. I was joined with Texas Children’s Hospital to start raising money for a medical research fund to continue the studies that Dr. Cisek started with Shawn. In June of 2011, Shawn’s Anomaly Foundation (www.shawnsanomaly.org) was formed with a mission to provide education, hope, and help to families dealing with congenital anomalies. The journey has begun, and now we look towards others to help raise the money needed fulfill the mission.

First Triathlon Just Weeks
After Shawn's 3rd Surgery

Shawn’s medical journey stirred up many things not only the medical community, but in myself as well. I knew from going through this experience that I never wanted another family to ever have to go through what we did, and I could do something about that. Shawn is proof of how to overcome impossible. To help with raise funds for the medical research, I decided that I would try to accomplish my own impossible. In 2010, I started the transformation from being an overweight smoker to becoming an Ironman Triathlon Finisher. I am currently underway with that journey. The final chapter will be written when I cross the finish line at the Ironman Texas on May 19th, but the Shawn’s Anomaly story will continue.  I am also joined by other athletes, like Garrett, who make Shawn's Anomaly their Reason2Race for their event of choice.

Shawn After 3rd Surgery

Shawn’s surgeries and recovery have been miraculous, and we want to tell his story, the story of the conditions, and my journey to the Ironman, and the ongoing efforts for Shawn’s Anomaly to help benefit society. We want to people to become aware of these understudied anomalies that desperately need research, and ultimately save a family from ever feeling that isolation and helplessness we once did.

For me this mission is not an option or even a passion that I chose to support.  This is an OBLIGATION!  There is not any other foundation out their that focuses on this obviously problem, so to say that our efforts are important is really an understatement.  It is changing and saving lives. 

The next time you go out to dinner, pick up a cup of gourmet coffee, or splurge on that outfit that you might only wear once, I ask you to really consider putting that money to a better use and fulfilling the Shawn's Anomaly mission-Education, Hope, & Help.  It will change your life and others.

To donate to a particular athlete click their name below:

Matthew Murphy
Garrett Oakley

To donate directly to Texas Children's Hospital/Shawn's Anomaly Medical Research Fund:

CLICK HERE