Help Ease the Burden for Sherri's Family

Hey everyone. My name is Shannon and I want to talk about an amazing woman for a few. Sherri Smith was a fighter. She was a unique woman who had a passion for anything that screamed a good time. She loved to make people laugh and made it her mission. Growing up was fun with her. She became my best friend as I got older and reached my teen years. I could tell her any and everything and I did for the most part. She would listen and never judged me. She never turned her back on me even when I deserved it and trust me I did for about 7 months. She was blunt and straight to the point. She did sugarcoat somethings depending on who she was talking to and she wouldn't say something behind your back she wouldn't say to your face. She would give the shirt off her back to help. She spent her life fighting for the things she wanted, to survive, to thrive. She fought all the way up until the end. On June 11th, she woke up in a lot of pain. I tried to get her to go to the for hours. She was a stubborn woman and said she just needed to rest and relax. Ilet her do that. I checked on her around 2 in the afternoon and while she was still in pain, she said it was better. I had to leave because my grandma was having surgery in nashville. I had to be there for her. My mom said she was good and to head back. I couldn't reach her again until the next morning around 9:30ish she called me stated she needed help and then nothing but silence. I called my sister and she went and broke into the house to get to her. When she arrived at the ER, she was hypothermic and hypertensive. When the tests started to come back it showed she had septis. They started her on iv antibiotics and sent her for scans. They discovered an obstruction in her small intestine and a lot of something in her body cavity around her liver and stomach. They were fixing to do surgery to see if she was bleeding internally when more results came back showing that her blood was at a good level and whatnot. They did another scan that took more indepth pictures. The obstruction had burst. They rushed her into surgery after making me promise not to let her stay alive by a machine. She has been saying that forever. They ended up having the remove 3 sections of her small intestine that night. Because of complications, they had to stop surgery leaving her open. They finished the surgery the following day where they ended up having to remove her large intestine more of her small intestine and her spleen. Later that day they discovered she had a blood clot in the aortic arch coming out of her heart. When the obstruction burst, her blood pressure shot up causing the clot to produce tiny clots that went throughout her body. They cut off blood flow to her feet and hands, and one had cut off blood flow to her kidneys. The doctors gave me hope when they said her kidneys could make a come back if we could buy her time to heal and push blood thinners in. So the waiting game started. It seemed like in areas where she was progressing others she was declining. On Monday the 17th, she finally opened her eyes. She mouthed she loved me. The doctor's asked her questions and she was able to respond pretty accurately. She couldn't tell the day of the week but then again I still can't tell that. She then looked at me and asked to have the vent removed. Of course I'm begging her no and asking her if she knew what that meant and everything...if she knew that the vent wasn't breathing for her but because she has apeana it was helping her...that it was on the lowest setting. She said yes and she wanted it out. Well, because I was by myself I didn't do anything that night. She told her night nurse she wanted it out and we managed to talk her into waiting for the doctor tomorrow and discuss everything going on. The next morning they came in to clean her up and start the dialysis. I went down and got coffee and went to my car to mentally prep for the day and read the news and let everyone know what's going on. By the time I made it back to her room her mother in law and my step sister are there with my mom telling them to take to vent out and stop treatment. The doctor finally came in and wanted to talk. She said she could wait. We went into a consult room and started the hardest discussion of my life. She was in complete renal kidney failure and would be on dialysis every other day for the rest of her life, she would have a feeding tube for the rest of her life, she would 100% lose her right foot and about 80 to 85% of her left foot by this point. Everyone who knows my mom knows she's an active person and lives to ride motorcycles and is very independent. I knew what decision I was fixing to have to make. All of the family but a few were with me and had and still have my back. I went into her room and started to tell her what the doctor told us with my stepsister holding my hand giving me strength. She said to take the vent out and let nature take its course. I honored her wishes. Within 2 hours the tube was out and she could mouth her words and respond really well. She was breathing great. I knew she wouldn't survive but I still had faith. She fell asleep and I allowed her to rest. That night after everyone went home and I was changing into pjs she starting knocking on her bed to get my attention. She was wide eyed and so alert. While she still couldn't really talk because of the vent, she managed to tell me thank you and that she loved me and that she was sorry. I told her no need to be sorry and we had a great and highly emotional 3 to 4 hours. She fell asleep at 3 to 3:30am. That was the last time I saw her eyes. As the day progressed, I asked if I could take her home. I fought tooth and nail to get her there but I managed it the next day. This is Friday. Everyone said she wouldn't make it through the night but she did. She let us know she could still hear us by her eyebrows. Saturday came, and I could tell it was getting close. It was hard for me not to hover but I managed it and she took her last breath at 10:36 pm. She had a smile on her face and the most peaceful look on her face. Now, I'm left shattered and overwhelmed. I do have support but as this was very sudden and unexpected, things are extremely tight right now. The amount I'm shooting for will cover the funeral expenses and help towards utilities and food costs. Anything would be of help and my family and myself appreciates it. We have decided to not have a viewing. Once her mom is released from rehab and can come home, we will set a date and let friends and family know.

Breakdown of Costs

Use of Facilities, Staff & Equipment- $750

Direct Cremation- $2,695

Copies of Death Certificate- $15 ×5- $75

Permit Disposition- $25

Total- $3545

The leftover will go for basic items such as dog food, groceries, and bills.

We greatly appreciate all the help you guys give.