Honoring JoAnn Cosgrove and Continuing Her Legacy

Hi... I'm Danielle, I'm 33 years old. A few days ago, on March 28th, my mom passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. She had a heart issue that she had a successful surgery for on Valentine's Day. She was scheduled to complete second part of the surgery on 4/03.

When I was 3, my dad - army vet and FBI agent- died of leukemia. My mom, JoAnn, raised me herself and we were two peas in a pod... we supported each other every day, rode horses and built up a few different ranch properties together in my lifetime... I hit the jackpot when it came to moms.

My mom was a powerhouse... a huge firecracker woman in a tiny little package with a heart of gold. A heart too big for her small frame to contain. My mom was everything I looked up to my entire life, and will always emulate and strive to be. She built a ranch quite literally with her own hands, and the helping hands of many amazing people.

Black Horse Ranch is my mom's legacy, it's a place for people who love horses and camping to come and enjoy nature, the forest, a huge campfire, a great meal... and the thing that mattered most to my mom - to enjoy becoming instant family with anyone who was there. If you know my mom, you could hear her voice in your head "You're Family!"

My mom lived at Black Horse and we all joked she had a ball and chain. It was her entire life and passion, her heart and soul. I didn't live there with her, but I would go out and help her all the time with events and all the happenings. Everyone would talk about how we were so lucky to have each other and loved seeing us run the big dinner parties together.

Of course I knew that one day in the future it would be up to me to continue the legacy of what my Mom built - an incredible property, community, business..... I just never ever ever imagined this day would come so soon in my life. I'm devastated and my heart is shattered into a million pieces.... but, like my mom, I am determined.

The last thing my mom texted to me before she passed was.... "I'll figure it out." I will figure it out. I know that for sure. But what was the unspoken message behind that text was... I'll see who at the ranch can help.

My mom was fiercely independent... and yet somehow still knew how to create community and lean into that for support and help when needed. The ranch was built with and by and because of people who loved my mom very much. Without that support, the property would still be a sandpit. And now... I'm following my mom's lead. I am fierce, I am independent, I will figure this out... and I also need your support. There are a ton of costs associated with the loss of my mom and with this transition.

Thanks for reading and for your support...it means the world to me. I love you all. You're family.