Grief and Tribulations Archives - Page 2 of 3

A Beautiful Tribute to Wayne’s Dad

October 11, 2015 By Sherri

We had a BEAUTIFUL Celebration of Life Service for Wayne’s Dad, Russ Connell, yesterday!

4 of his 5 children spoke about the things they most remember about their dad’s life and what impacted their lives. I am so proud of Wayne’s tribute to Russ. It was loving, with lots of laughter!

We also had a really fun and emotional video of his life, what he loved and his family. And what a treat it was to have the Connell nephews get up and sing in a quartet! They were incredible! Can’t wait to share that too!

I want to say THANK YOU to all of the amazing people who attended in support of Wayne and me! A special thanks goes out to several friends of Wayne’s and IDA Board Members who were there. We can’t begin to express how much your presence meant to us!

I would also like to thank a few of my special friends who were there when I didn’t even ask them to be! Thank you, Ali, Ann, JOdy and Nancy!! I love you all SO much!!!

Updates on ME! From Snickers

February 20, 2015 By Sherri

My Story on November 20, 2014:

On November 20th I was in the ER. The internist and cardiologist said I wouldn’t live without a pacemaker, but I couldn’t get one, because I wouldn’t survive the surgery. They said my heart condition is not treatable with medications or supplements. They also said I either had a brain tumor or injury (from falling off the couch a couple of years ago) and they were 95% sure I had cancer. My personal vet and Pumpkin and Cookie’s vet agreed with the findings and prognosis.

I hadn’t eaten for days, couldn’t stand or walk and was having seizures and passing out from my heart rate being 200!! They said I wasn’t going to make it. Mommy decided to take me home and let me say goodbye to Grammy and she wanted to be totally sure she couldn’t make me better enough to at least have a few more days or weeks (she knows a lot about supplements and diets).

When I made it a few more days, my vet was amazed! When I made it 2 weeks, he said he was totally shocked! Well, here I am exactly 3 months later!

It hasn’t been easy. Most of the time, I want to eat, but nothing sounds good. So, Mommy has to give me all kinds of different foods about five times a day to try to get me to eat. If I don’t want it, she has to put it all back and try again later. I am also very restless with my heart rate all over the place. I want up, then down then eat, no don’t eat. I’m fragile. I can easily become stressed, start shaking, my blood sugar goes down then I either pass out or start having a string of seizures for several days or a week.

Just trying to cut my hair throws me into a tizzy, so Mommy has had to do just a bit at a time. In the picture on the bottom right of the above collage, you can see Mommy finally got the bulk of my coat cut then a week later, did my face (first picture)! Sadly, she says, my tail is full of knots she can’t get out, so she’s going to have to cut the hair off my beautiful flowing tail.

However, as bad as it sounds, for the most part, I am still eating something every day, gained some weight back and wag my tail a lot. So, we are still living day to day and thanking God for every day we still have each other!

Thank you all for your prayers!

♡ Snickers

MORE UPDATES On Snickers:

2014 UPDATES:

JULY 30 UPDATE:

I MADE IT TO MY BIRTHDAY!!

Last November, I was only supposed to live a few days, but I am here and I made it to my 14th birthday! I am still having lots of problems, so we are being thankful for every day I have! Wahoo! ♡ Snickers

JULY 8 UPDATE: I’ve had 3 seizures in 4 days! Mommy’s worried to leave my side. But I am still eating. I know it is a big pain to feed me, cuz I have to eat every two hours or my blood sugar drops. Yet, Mommy usually has to try 8 different foods to get me to eat. And I am still wagging my tail and happy! So, I keep fighting until my day comes. ♡ Snickers

JUNE 7 UPDATE: Rough day! We have had company, which is awesome! But I get so upset with another dog here (several years ago a friend’s dog bit me in the face). I had another heart episode (hacking and wheezing to get it to beat). Then I had a seizure. Later, I had a panic attack and another seizure. Mommy had hard time getting me to stop shaking, but I was able to eat a few bites and am going to nap. ♡ Snickers

APRIL 22 UPDATE: I GAVE MOMMY A BAD SCARE this morning! I had a seizure then died! This happened a year ago. I have been blacking out and having seizures for 2 years, but this the second time my heart stopped and I quit breathing.

Mommy did CPR again and again and again. I wasn’t coming back, so she flipped me over and pounded on my heart then did CPR again and again. I was a rag doll with my mouth open and tongue hanging out. No life signs. She thought I wasn’t coming back, but she wasn’t giving up.

Finally, there was a short, small breath, so Mommy massaged my lungs and did some more compressions … AND I CAME BACK!

Thinking back, Mommy realizes I have been having more shaking and high heart rate episodes the past couple of weeks. And as usual, she has to work really heart to get me to eat 6 times a day or my blood sugar drops and I pass out and heart could stop or I could go into a coma.

But I have been happy in between, wagging my tail and loving life, so she wasn’t about to let go of me!

Thank you, Lord, for another day with Mommy and Daddy!! ♡ Snickers

APRIL 3 UPDATE: In case you all were wondering … I have a whole ‘nuther month under my belt! That makes 4 months of living, when they said I had only a few days! Mommy is really working hard 6 times a day to get me to eat. I am not picky, I just have a hard time finding something that sounds good these days. But because once I get my appetite or my blood sugar drops, I scarf up my food and because one of my foods has rice in it, I have gained all my weight back! Wahoo! ♡ Snickers

March 20 UPDATE: In case you all were wondering … I have a whole ‘nuther month under my belt! That makes 4 months of living, when they said I had only a few days! Mommy is really working hard 6 times a day to get me to eat. I am not picky, I just have a hard time finding something that sounds good these days. But because once I get my appetite or my blood sugar drops, I scarf up my food and because one of my foods has rice in it, I have gained all my weight back! Wahoo! ♡ Snickers

MORE VIDEOS AND PHOTOS Of Snickers!

Snickers Strikes Again

Snickers the Mighty Alert Dog

Beware of the Celery Monster

Drive-In Dinner with the Doggie

Guilty As Charged

What Does Snickers Want?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2015

A Very Thankful Thanksgiving 2014

There’s Someone Who Cares

We Have a New Breed of Dog! A Sheep Tzu!

Christmas Blessing and Happy New Year 2014

We Almost Lost Snickers

November 28, 2014 By Sherri

November 22, 2014 from Snickers: I’m still here!! For almost 4 days I couldn’t stand, hold up my head, potty or eat. My heart rate was 200, kept having seizures and blacking out! I have a history of heart problems and seizures.

Went to ER, Cardiologist and Internist. Mommy talked to 2 other vets. They agreed there is no long term treatment due heart failure, kidney failure, probable brain tumor or injury (I fell off the back of the couch twice and off our tall bed a month ago) and cancer. They all said I wouldn’t get better. So Mommy and Daddy brought me home for a few days to say goodbye.

Surprise! I thought I would shock everyone, start walking, eating and pottying! I don’t know how long I have (it may be a few days, weeks or months). I still have heart that cant be helped with medication, brain tumor or injury, an abcess and most likely cancer. But Mommy is really good with nutrition and supplements and made up some concoctions she’s been giving me.

Every day is a gift! So, Ill just keep fighting as long as I can. I’m tough like Mommy! Anyhow, i wanted to thank you all for your prayers!

♡ Snickers

PS) Don’t look at my bed head hair!

November 20, 2014: Had to take Snickers to ER today. She can’t stand or eat. She is in heart failure, cancer and probable brain tumor. Brought her home to say goodbye to my Mom. 3 animals and 2 people in the past few months! I am devastated! She’s my baby!

Kissing Kit Kat Goodbye

October 4, 2014 By Sherri

We had to say goodbye to Kit Kat today. We did everything we could to save her. We were force feeding her with tubes and syringes, but instead of getting better, she got much worse. She couldn’t even digest the liquids and cried in horrible pain for a couple of days, so we had to let her go. She was starving to death, which is not something anyone should have to go through. I let her suffer too long, because I was determined to save her. But I couldn’t. I’m so sorry, my Kitty Kat Puddy Tat! 🙁

September 24: Not out of the woods yet and don’t know if she has a bleeding ulcer, cancer or the exact cause of her starvation, muscle wasting, anemia and anorexia. But the great news is the vet was shocked to find that her kidneys and liver look pretty good and she does not appear to have a lung infection or virus!

This all started with severe depression when her Aunt JellyBean passed away 2 months ago. She cried for 2 weeks straight and moped around for months. She wasn’t eating much nor getting out to play with the babies as she was before, which continued to get worse and worse. This could have precipitated the whole viscous cycle, leaving her with loss of appetite and possible bleeding ulcer, then anemia, severe acidosis (very dangerous to the kidneys), anorexia (she hasn’t eaten in a very long time) and severe muscle wasting. Or it could be a hidden illness like cancer or the ulcer, which was made worse with the depression.

So, our first action is to try to get her eating again. The vet will be giving her an appetite stimulant, as well as electrolytes for the dehydration and sodium carbonate for the acidosis. If she continues not to eat, she will starve to death. We can tube feed her, but without knowing the cause, it may be just prolonging the situation. So, please pray she begins eating on her own today!

September 22: Please keep us in your prayers! Kit Kat (pictured as a baby here), has become suddenly very ill. We just lost her Aunt JellyBean a few months ago.Vet is doing blood tests tomorrow. Doesn’t look good for Kit Kat. This is so unexpected! She was healthy and strong all her life. Thought she would break records!
As you probably know, we just lost Wayne’s mom and my close, close friend, Matt this month. Lost my brother not long ago, as well! So many losses and crisis situations!

Friends please come for a visit.
♡ Sherri Mitchell Connell

Thank you everyone!

Pumpkin is consoling Kit Kat after losing Aunt JellyBean

I Lost My Friend, the World Lost an Incredible Inspiration

September 2, 2014 By Sherri

Today, I lost one of the best friends I have ever had. And the world lost the most amazing, giving, caring, selfless person I have ever known … Matt Barrett, AKA Gentle Giant.

Matt was like a brother to me. My family loved him so much and he called my mom, Momma Carole. lives will never be the same without him. We must remember his sheer courage and utter perseverance. None can imagine the hardships, discrimination, mistreatment and unfathomable pain he endured for a lifetime!

He was not supposed to be on this earth decades ago. But because of his incredible determination, many lives have been changed by his story, advocacy and giving life. He was the kind of person who would get a gift from a friend and either share it with others to take it down to Tent City where he lived for several years.

I cannot express the devastation and loss I will endure. In order to survive this myself, I have to know that I did everything possible to offer my help, love, friendship and comfort to Matt. Also, I must remember that I was going to lose him very soon no matter what, that he was in unspeakable pain and he is no longer suffering.

Be free, Matt! Be with the Lord! And tell my brother I said you can ride his Harley!

I LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!

Sherri

OBITUARY For Matthew R. Barrett

Matt Barrett was born and raised in Colorado. He battled several forms of cancer since the age of 2, survived many operations which disfigured his facial features and left him heavily scarred both physically and emotionally, yet through it all he kept going and had a tender spirit and heart for others, loved music both performing vocally and instrumentally enjoyed playing and watching sports, was an accomplished writer and advocate for homeless, poverty and disability issues. In his youth he won many awards for his singing abilities as well as in sports, he earned his nickname Giant not only due to his physical stature, presence and strength, but because of his heart and giving and generous nature.

During his adult years Matt won praise from Presidents, Congress members and other public figures for his writings, including a published book of poetry, and advocacy for homeless poverty and disability issues. Matt’s writing can be read and his book ordered on his blog: A View from the Street. In 2013 he received a Mayoral proclamation making May 25th, Matt Barrett day in Seattle.

In place of flowers or a memorial service he asked that people donate to one of these three great causes: The Invisible Disabilities Association, Greater Seattle Cares, and The Watershed Center. His ashes will be planted in a tree at the Watershed Center by his dear friend Brooke. He is survived by and will be missed by a vast network of loving friends and family.

RESOURCES:

Celebration of Life Event for Matt Barrett May 25, 2013

Video of Matt speaking at the 2011 Invisible Disabilities Association Awards Gala.

Invisible Disabilities Association In Memory and Donation Page:www.InvisibleDisabilities.org/InMemory

Greater Seattle Cares: www.greaterseattlecares.org

The Watershed Center: www.thewatershedcenter.org/

Matt’s Blog and Book, A View from the Street: www.AViewfromtheStreet.com

Wayne’s Mom Went to Be with the Lord

September 1, 2014 By Sherri

Wayne and Mom

Wayne and I have been spending a lot of time at Hospice with family and saying goodbye to his mom, Karen. She went to be with the Lord this morning. Her laugh and love will be greatly missed. This was so sudden!

We are at the stage in life when we start losing aunts, uncles and parents. It is never easy. It just was so sudden. She was just at our house 5 weeks ago playing with Pumpkin and Cookie. One week later she is in the hospital. A month later gone.

Please keep Wayne and the whole family in your prayers!

August 30th: How amazing! Karen was awake off and on today! Her siblings and granddaughter and family were able to talk with her! Now most of the family has been able to spend time with her, talk with her and say goodbye. They even sang to her and at times, Wayne said even though her eyes were closed, she was moving her lips as if to sing along!

This whole journey has been SO quick and unexpected! None of us are truly ready to see Karen go!

Nonetheless, I am thankful for the time we have had with her, the fact that most family members have been able to spend time with her and say goodbye, as well as how the family has pulled together to love on her and on one another. Praise God! Karen Growing Up 2

August 29th: Karen’s brother and sister arrived this evening, but Karen had been unresponsive all day. Tonight, I go to bed praying that she wakes up long enough to say goodbye to her siblings tomorrow.

August 28th: Praise the Lord though Karen was mostly sleeping today, her other sons and daughter in laws made it. They were able to talk with her and hold her hand. She struggled with responding, but she heard them and recognized them! Now Karen’s brother and sister are on the way and due to arrive tomorrow night. I don’t know how she will hang on that long, but we pray she does.

August 27th: We just got back from the Hospice Center. It won’t be long till she goes to be with the Lord. I pray she doesn’t go until Wayne’s 2 brothers and sister in law’s get here tomorrow.

August 25th: As many of you know, less than a month ago, Karen was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer that has spread and causing critical complications. She was in the hospital, a rehab center, one of Wayne’s brother’s house and is now in a Hospice Care Center until they can get her more stabilized with the pain and inability to keep food down.

They will be sending her back to our brother’s house and the family is taking turns spending the nights with her. She had two rounds of big chemo doses, but her markers continue to soar. So, she will not be doing anymore treatments.

Please keep Karen in your prayers that they can help control the pain and nausea and she doesn’t have to suffer so much.

Pray that we find homes for her three cats (one was adopted by our cousin). She loves her cats and misses them so much. It’s very hard for her to be away from them and finding them a new home.

Pray for the family, as everyone spends time with her and cares for her. Pray for peace for us all.

Thank you!

Saying Goodbye to Our JellyBean Girl

June 14, 2014 By Sherri

We had to say goodbye to our JellyBean Girl today.

JellyBean used to fall asleep on my chest and make sweet baby noises! She loved her Mommy and Daddy so much. We miss her beyond words!

I had a special song just for her. JellyBean would instantly lay down and fall asleep. I sang this to her before she passed away.

JellyBean Girl, my JellyBean Girl She’s so sweet, she’s so wonderful She’s my JellyBean, JellyBean Girl JellyBean Girl, my JellyBean Girl

Goodbye, my sweet JellyBean! Thank you for being such an amazing friend and companion. I will see you on the other side!

June 10, 2014: Please say a prayer for us and our JellyBean Girl. Please pray she gets better (highly unlikely) goes on her own or we know without a doubt when it is time for us to intervene.

JellyBean has been in horrible pain for a year with a lame leg. She is 14 and that is pretty old for a goat. I feel terrible about her pain. I have done everything humanly possible to help her with special diets and supplements, as well as pain medications. I have talked to my vet and she agreed that as long as she has a will to live, eats and gets out, we should let her. But she is taking a turn. Today, she went out in the grass, wouldn’t eat much and was there all day. I went down and sat with her several times and she talked to me, looked in my eyes and I told her what a great goat she has been and how much I love her. Wayne had to help her back into her house when he got home. She has always been so kind, gentle and sweet. She was my “lap goat.” She melts in my arms and falls asleep when I sing to her. She has been an amazing friend. It’s all expected, but never easy.

April 22, 2014. My poor JellyBean Girl has been dealing with severe arthritis in her leg. Now I had to have the vet over to drain an abscess. She left a drain in it. Ewwweee!! Her bedding needs to be clean, so my ANGEL, Bree Villyard came over to clean out her house! What would I do without her?? Thank you, Bree!! This picture is from when JB was about a year old. She is now 14. That is pretty old for a goat. My vet says she has had one live till she was 16. If it weren’t for her horrible leg, I would bet she would break a world record! Please say a prayer for her, because she has been in horrible pain. But my vet agrees that she still has a lot of fight in her. She is amazing! Yet, if she doesn’t go on her own, the time will come all too soon for me to make a decision. I will miss this sweet baby!

Snickers Having Seizures

March 11, 2014 By Sherri

PLEASE Pray for our Snickers our Shih Tzu!!! She has been having seizures off and on for a year. The last three have been severe with her making this horrific screeching noise like a metal appliance being dragged across a cement floor.

Last night, she had a seizure and actually died! She was totally limp, wasn’t breathing and her tongue was hanging out. I turned her on her back cleared her airway, gave her CPR three times and revived her! Praise God!

It was terrifying!!!! Please pray for Snickers and for us! She is our baby!!

UPDATE April 3, 2014

Lord help us. Please pray! Had our groomer over last night to shave poor baby Snickers.

She had another grand mal seizure at 3 am!! My doctors are already extremely worried about my cortisol levels. My heart is stopping and starting again and again. Ever since my brother died, my cortisol wont shut down. No sleep. Need to keep her calm and not leave her side again. She’s my baby!

God Will Not Give Us More Than We Can Handle is not Scripture

February 8, 2014 By Sherri

People often say that “God will not give us more than we can handle.” This is not in Scripture, but is most often the result of misinterpretation of this verse:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God isfaithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Cor 10:13

God does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. It is not talking about bearing life, trials and struggles. We are to trust and lean on Him. Not bear them by our own strength.

In fact, it when we are not trying to bear it in our strength that He can give us His strength.

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. Cor 12:9-10

Visit with Family

May 22, 2013 By Sherri

After many months of trying to make plans and plans falling through, we finally made it to Grand Junction to visit my sister, brother in law, great niece and great nephew!

Getting my mom there was a challenge due to her health and battle with lung cancer and my sister is fighting breast cancer. She has had several surgeries and a ton of chemo treatments. This summer, she will be facing radiation M-F for six weeks!

I had this yard sign made for her, because she has always been Super Deb but needs a break! It is time for people to be there for her and they have been!This was a low-key, enjoyable visit as we all

sat out on my sister’s famous back patio, amidst her incredible garden of flowers and vegetables.

Being there without my brother was extremely hard on us all. We went to his grave site and bawled in devastation. This was the first time we had seen the bench my sister designed and it was breath-taking and the most amazing memorial I have ever laid eyes on. It was incredible!

Jim,

I looked for you at home.
I looked for you at your grave.
But you are not there.

Where you stood beside me
and where you loved me,
there is a giant hole.

I wish you were in my arms.
But I rejoice that you are with Jesus
… and you are in my heart.

I love you Big Brudder!! My life is not the same without you.

« Previous Page

We Can All Make a Difference

Subscribe to My Blog