Sherri Connell

A Lifetime in 27 Years

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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! 

We Are So Grateful for Porter Hospice Residences!

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Carole at Porter Hospice Residences at the Johnson Center

Mom got to see the waterfall up close! She was so happy!

We finally got my Mom, Carole, outside for a few minutes to see the waterfall in the garden! To look at her in this picture, you would have no idea how much she has been through and how much she deeply suffers daily. But she asked for a little lipstick and flashed a quick smile so we could capture the happiness in her heart … a photo I will cherish for many years to come! 
 
It has been a very arduous road, as my mom has battled lung cancer for eight years! The past couple of years have been a formidable and agonizing fight, with many close calls and crisis after crisis. But now she faces the final chapter. Please pray she does not suffer much more in this life, before the Lord takes her home.

Thank you, Porter Hospice At The Johnson Center, for loving my mom and making her feel so special and important in the last few pages of her life here on earth!
 
Everyone has been so caring, helpful and amazing! My mom is finally at peace, knowing she is not alone, because not only does she have her family and friends, but now she also has her Porter Hospice Team, who have become her family, too! This is a gift in which we will be forever grateful!
 

After seeing the waterfall, Mom is sound asleep!

It takes very strong, yet compassionate people to work in a Hospice environment. May God bless you and your families for the time, sacrifice and heartache you all face daily. We are so very honored and thankful to have our mom in your care!
 

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Thank you, everyone!

Missing My Kit Kat

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I’m missing my Kit Kat! Never thought I would ever say that. She was a TERROR! She was in the birth canal too long and I believe she had some brain damage. So, she never bonded with me and as she got older always wanted to beat me up.

But the last 6 months of her life, I worked with her and she started mellowing. Sadly, when our other goat, JellyBean died, Kit Kat went into a depression and died of a broken heart. 🙁

In this video, Pumpkin (whom Kit Kat hated) is loving on her as she grieved JellyBean. Yes, goats have feelings. So sweet!

Sherri

www.PumpkinAndCookie.com

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!!!

We Can All Make a Difference

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