11/19/2025
I’m sorry for the radio silence as of late. My heart is hurting. I’m shocked. I’m devastated. I can’t stop crying. On Monday, November 17 at 9:18 pm, my mom passed away. I’m not sure what to say. I don’t know what to do. She was my best friend in the whole world. We were inseparable. She was my biggest cheerleader, the wind in my sails, my rock, my foundation. I’ve been petrified to sit down and compose a eulogy because I know nothing I can put into words will do justice to the amazing person my mom was.
My mom is the reason this wonderful Sanctuary exists. She is one of our original founders. She's the person who instilled in me my love for animals, always telling me to be kind to every living thing. She gave me the strength and the courage to follow my dreams, to build this incredible haven for people and animals alike. On days where I felt overwhelmed by the weight of the world of rescue, she was right by my side, giving me words of encouragement and the strength to get up and do it all again the next day. “You’ve got this!” she would say. She never once doubted me.
Over the last two years, her health began to decline. She started losing her vision. Her mobility was compromised. It killed her not to be able to make it over to the farm to see the animals. Every day she would ask about all 150+ creatures at the Sanctuary. She’d spend hours fretting over how to best build a wheelchair for Hank, how to craft footwear for Kevin or how to get a pill into a scared cat. She was no longer able to do chores, but her brain was as sharp as ever. She was the most intelligent person I’ve ever known. She taught me how to problem solve, how to think critically and approach each situation from multiple angles until a solution could be found. She always had the answers. It didn’t matter how crazy, absurd or off the wall the task at hand was. She figured it out.
She imparted that same tenacity in me. Education was so important to her. From the time I was a little girl, she would remind me daily, “If you can read, you can do anything.” I took that adage to heart. I set huge goals for myself. I pursued a Bachelor’s, an Associate’s and a Master’s degree, but I didn’t stop there. I wanted to make the world a better place. Education is one thing. What you do with it is another.
My whole life was surrounded by animals. I spent some time yesterday going through old family photos. It’s safe to say at least 50% of them depicted me, my mom and some type of furry, scaly or feathered creature. Looking at the evidence right in front of me, it was apparent back then I was destined to spend my adult life dedicated to caring for the animal kingdom. Four years ago when I told my mom I wanted to turn our little rescue farm into a full blown animal sanctuary, she was my biggest advocate.
My mom was my best friend. She and I were always on the same wavelength, sometimes to a freakish level. We could finish each other’s sentences, knowing exactly what was on one another’s mind before we even uttered a single word. A simple glance was all we needed to communicate an entire thought. We were together for my first breath and her last.
I'm not sure how to carry on without her by my side. I know she would want to see the Sanctuary thrive and I promise to do everything in my power to keep moving forward, following our pledge to help those who need us most. I'm going to need to lean on our amazing community of volunteers, followers, donors and supporters while I try to navigate my life right now. I won't be able to do it alone.
Mom, I love you so much. I hope I can continue to make you proud. I’m not ready to do this without you. Please give Penny and Bear a hug for me. ❤️💔❤️
