Sherri Connell

A Lifetime in 27 Years

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We Lost Our Baby, Cookie!

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With extremely broken hearts, we regret to inform everyone that we have really horrible news … Thursday morning we woke up to finding our beautiful and amazing Cookies and Cream had passed away! We are ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED! As it says in this video, “A Beautiful Girl Makes a Beautiful World!” And without her, our world is CRUSHED!

Cookie was only seven years old (almost eight), VERY well cared for with very healthy foods, herbs, minerals and vitamins. Her coat was shiny, appetite was good and she showed NO signs of any distraught whatsoever. In fact, we have cameras in their barn, so we can check them regularly and she was up at 10pm Wednesday night for her regular nighttime snack of fresh grass hay to help keep them warm. We are in absolute SHOCK and DESPAIR!

The vet came and reviewed all of her behaviors, foods, shelter, weather and did an exam. There were no apparent reasons, so we suspect she had a heart attack (which I am finding out can happen with no signs). Goats generally live until 8-14, so we had hoped she would make it to 14 like our JellyBean did. We cannot believe this happened!
 
We don’t have kids, so our girls are our babies! And I am very ill and homebound, so these girls are my children, best friends and my joy in life. In the face of my daily life of losses, unbearable pain and isolation, they have always been here for me to snuggle and literally wrap themselves around me with their complete and unwavering LOVE! Their desire to be with me and love me have given me reason to fight another day, so they would never experience losing their Mommy.
 
“The Adventures of Pumpkin and Cookie” has been the only thing left in my life that I could do from time to time. Posting photos, GIFS and videos gave me GREAT JOY and PURPOSE IN LIFE! … Now that’s GONE!
 
I don’t know how I will cope! But I do know that right now, I have to focus on my only purpose today and that is to comfort my precious, sweet, loving, one-in-a-million baby, Pumpkin and help her through this grief as much as I humanly can.
 
My husband Wayne and I have taken turns being with Pumpkin all during the day since Cookie passed, giving her love and helping her through her sheer loss. When the sun goes down, we sit with her in the barn until it becomes too cold for us, then we tuck her in and she goes to sleep. We check her regularly on the camera to make sure she is OK.
 
We replaced the large igloo with one that is smaller and won’t feel as empty. We put some of our clothes in there for familiar scent and lots of straw. She has been very tired and yesterday she wouldn’t eat her hay or broccolini (which is not normal at all), but we were able to get some grass hay pellets, pumpkin seeds, apple cider vinegar water, cabbage, flax seeds, a tiny bit of organic no sugar peanut butter and little organic popcorn down her.
 
Pumpkin and Cookie were inseparable! Never did they let the other out of their sight! If one went around a corner, the other would cry out loudly and in a panic to find the other! They grazed together, napped together, took sun-baths together, slept together and ate together. Though Cookie was mostly in charge, even when she was done grazing, she graciously layed down and waited for Pumpkin to finish. They were partners, best friends and sisters (not by blood), together 24×7. Pumpkin is lost. There are NO others like this DYNAMIC DUO! We are beside ourselves in GRIEF!
 
We knew one would eventually pass before the other, but we had NO idea it would happen this soon! So now we are faced with looking for another companion for her to snuggle with and take adventures with. There is NO OTHER like Cookie! She can’t be replaced! And bringing another goat onto our property is very scary to us! Pumpkin is our baby and we will take every precaution to get the healthiest, friendliest buddy possible. We will also make sure SHE is happy with the goat and do what SHE wants. We will keep you all informed.
 
Thank you all for allowing us to share our Cookie and thank you for showing us how much you care! She was SO SPECIAL! Our hearts are BROKEN FOREVER! Please keep Pumpkin and us in your thoughts and prayers.
 
With completely broken hearts,
 
Sherri and Wayne

Mom, I Love You to Infinity and Beyond!

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I used to tell my mom, “I love you to infinity” and she would reply “and BEYOND” (and visa versa). I will cherish this sweet voice mail from my mom forever!

My mom was a loving, caring mom to my sister, brother and me! Though we all had challenges in this life, we remained very close, good friends! My mom struggled with chronic illness since the early 90’s.

In 2011, she was diagnosed with Lung Cancer! Then my brother passed away about 10 months later. The whole family has been beyond devastated! Then my sister got Cancer and went through a horrible battle. We hung onto each other tightly, as all three of us were grieving and fighting for our lives!

When Mom was first diagnosed, she was was given a year to live, IF she lived through the surgery and treatment (which we know without a doubt she would not have). We agreed none of us were ready to lose her to surgery and treatments and life in a nursing home, so we chose to take some alternative measures. Mom didn’t want my sister and me to lose her after we lost my brother, so she fought hard!

For 5 years, she had many close calls, she was unable to care for her own daily needs for months at a time, had lots of visits to the ER and help with rides, shopping, cooking and cleaning. Thankfully, she did have small windows of times in between her treatments when she could heat up her own food and drive a little bit. The last 3 1/2 years were extremely difficult, painful and full of constant crisis, close calls, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted livings and finally in Hospice.

This recording was from when she was in Porter Hospice for 4 1/2 months. We are so thankful she had a couple months there where she was really enjoying life the best she could, sitting in her favorite place in the living room and enjoying a beautiful garden right outside her doors! This voicemail was left when we had just had the alarms on her chair turned off for a month and she was FREE to move about in her room! She was puttering around, organizing things and talking on the phone. I am so grateful for the short time my mom had to enjoy her last days at Porter, before she had to go!

Soon after this voicemail, she went down hill.  Below is a short video of us sharing our “Infinity and Beyond” just a few days before she passed on. 

Mom, you fought an incredible fight and have suffered so long.  I miss you beyond words and I LOVE YOU TO INFINITY AND BEYOND! Forever and ever and ever!

Thank You for Being My Friend

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This week, I lost my sweet friend, Buddy. He was a gorgeous, incredible, loving, smart and fun horse. My heart is broken. I knew it was coming, but I guess I had hoped he would be with us for one more Summer.

I already miss looking out my back window to make sure he is OK and see how he’s doing. I miss asking him to smile and spoiling him with apples and carrots! He was one in a million!

But most of all, I hurt for my dear friend and neighbor, Crystal. She has had Buddy most of his life. They had a once in a lifetime bond; he was her best friend and companion.

When he was diagnosed with cancer, Crystal put up a sign in his barn that said, “How Wonderful Life Is While You’re in the World.”

She lived each day enjoying every moment they had together and worked hard at giving him everything he needed to have the best and longest life possible. … And she dreaded the day she would have to say goodbye. 

Buddy, thank you for being such an amazing fur-baby and for taking such good care of Crystal all of these years. You gave her life so much meaning and unconditional love. Now, watch over her from above and run pain free through the clouds! We will miss you, my friend! 

Saying Goodbye to a Good Friend

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With a heavy heart, I share that my dear friend, Ann left this world last night. I rejoice that she is pain free, with God, her son, her dad and brother.

I am also thankful for the birthday party friends and family had for her in May. 100 people were there, standing in line to share their love for Ann. We gave her a tiara, boa and beads to make her feel like a queen! It was absolutely beautiful!

A special THANK YOU goes out to Jim Juhl, Gwen Juhl, June Greiman, Ali Fisher, the women’s group and choir and South Suburban Church for the amazing celebration!

Please keep her husband, daughter, siblings and mom in your prayers. May God bring them peace beyond comprehension. I love you, Ann! Thank you for being a blessing in my life. 💜💜💜

You Were Definitely Momma’s Girl

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My precious baby, you were so special! You were definitely Momma’s girl, right down to healthy eating habits!

I miss you SO MUCH, little monkey!

 Momma

 

We Lost Our Baby Snickers

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I have extremely heartbreaking news! Our baby Snickers went to Heaven in the middle of the night. She had a catastrophic stroke, most likely from the probable tumor in her brain that has been causing seizures and some neurological issues.

As many of you know, she wasn’t supposed to live more than a few days in November 2014. She wasn’t eating, her heart rate was 200 and she had a fatal heart condition, with Epilepsy. But I didn’t want to give up yet. I put supplements in a syringe and force fed her with them and she started walking and eating again. Then I made her fresh meats and vegetables. She has needed a ton of hands on care around the clock, including constant feeding since then. Nonetheless, she was happy, eating, wagging her tail and running around like a puppy. In fact, we had to slow her down most of the time!

Anyhow, several people have commented that they noticed we have been through a lot lately. I don’t want to be negative, but it has been unbelievable! The past few years alone, we have had constant crisis after death after crisis after death. 7 deaths, Mom and sister with cancer, 3 more family members really struggling and major crisis situations, in addition to my broken ankle (which a year later is still not totally healed), as well as recent flu, bronchial pneumonia and current torn ribs.

And now, my baby Snickers is gone. I am thankful for the time we had! But Mommy misses you SOOO much! Goodbye for now, my sweet little monkey! Thank you for bringing love and laughter into my life!

 Mommy

A Beautiful Tribute to Wayne’s Dad

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Wayne at Russ Memorial 2

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!!!

A Donation In Memory of Matt Barrett

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Animal Sanctuary Donation in Memory of MattDear Matt, I gave a donation to The Wild Animal Sanctuary in your memory today!

I love the work the sanctuary is doing! These animals didn’t deserve the life and treatment they had been given. The sanctuary rescues bears, tigers, lions and other animals from circuses, zoo’s and individuals who purchase these animals as pets. They provide them with a safe and happy home for them to live out the rest of their days!

I LOVE YOU MATT!!!

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