Sharon Gammell

My dear beloved friend Sharon Gammell is dying.

I wish I didn't have to type that.

I wish that it were not true.

It is true, though.

The last time I talked to Sharon was in October, and she gave me some advise when I emailed her for help. She did for me quite frequently.

After my sweet Rommy bear died, she was there for me and made the days easier for me.

Sharon sold Thayer's Historic Bed & Breakfast last year. At the time I was a little surprised at her decision. Now though, I think I understand.

Sharon moved to Belgrade, Minnesota, where she primarily focused on doing psychic readings from her website.

Around the last week in October, early November, I had a bad feeling about her and went to post on her facebook wall. Then a friend of hers that she had an appointment for a psychic reading for emailed me, concerned because Sharon missed their appointment, and she wasn't answering her phone. That is NOT like Sharon at all, and so I tried calling her too. She didn't answer me either.

I then contacted Sharon's sister in law, Misty - thinking she'd know what was happening, or who I could call or check with to see what was going on.

It was then I found out that Sharon (who lives alone), had fallen, and was unable to get up.  She layed where she fell for over 13 hours before someone found her.

She spent a month in the hospital. It was then discovered that Sharon has been quite ill for some time and told no one. It is unclear if she was receiving a doctors care or not, but its looking like she hasn't been.

Her kidneys had begun to fail. That is now under control.

Her liver is failing. She needs a transplant. She has Cirrhosis of the Liver.

She was recently moved to a nursing home to rehab so she could go home.

Friday I heard that Sharon had become incoherent and was refusing to take the medication.

I asked her sister if Sharon had any type of Medical Directive or Living Will.

She didn't know.

I asked if Sharon had a lawyer.

She didn't know that either, Sharon refused to answer any of their questions on the topic.

Sharon's late husband Warren Gammell did have a son, Brad, who is an attorney. No one had contacted him or thought to do so, probably because they were all so upset.

So I took it upon myself to find the guy.

Found  him in Texas, and he has his own law office.

I contacted him, and put him in touch with Sharon's brother.

By Friday night, he had taken the first plane from Texas to Minnesota.

I then contacted Patricia and Corey, two ladies John and I acted with in the Murder Mysteries that Sharon use to host. They were very grateful to know what was happening also.

Sharon didn't want to make anyone upset, worry or panic. Which is evidently why she told no one of how she was doing.

The only thing keeping Sharon alive is dialysis.

Should she pull through this the doctors give her no more than 6 months to live.

She is back in ICU at St. Cloud hospital in Minnesota.

I love her so much and have been so blessed having her in my life for the last 10 years.

This & That....

Greetings & Salutations!

Hope you guys all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

John and I drove to Mom and Dad's in Brainerd, where we were lucky enough to spend time with some of my awesome family. I am very thankful to have been blessed with a very large extended family.

Mom and Dad are leaving for Arizona next Wednesday the 28th. They will be gone until May of next year. While I am going to miss them terribly, I know that they have a great time when they are there, and are busy nearly every day. Plus, we can chat on Skype or on our cellphones. We're all on Verizon, so its a free call - sort of. :)

I finally took the leap and began looking into refinancing our house. I saw so many homes be forclosed on in the last few years, it was scary to me to even fathom taking a chance, however the interest rates were too good to ignore.

Glad I did. If all goes through as planned we'll be saving a ton of money in interest alone, not to mention monthly payments. Didn't have to start over at 30 years, we're doing 20, and no apprasial, as we're under water.

Simple pleasure of the day:

I love sitting, drinking coffee and watching my birds. I have 4 Lady Gouldian Finches, and 2 Shafttail Finches. Unlike other birds people keep as pets, these guys are not loud and screetchy, they softly chirp and the males will occasionally sing to the females. They're gorgeous. They're also known as "Rainbow Finches" because their colors are just stunning. They're also not the type of bird you need to handle. They're happy in their own little world. I love them. :)

Take care friends,
April

Blue Cross' do dance commercial

The Ultimate Vampire...

So I was watching some red carpet event on television, (not intentionally, I was channel surfing), and Robert Pattinson was being interviewed by some chick, and she says to him:

"Now, you're the ultimate vampire, obviously....."


Wait, what?

Seriously?

Robert Pattinson aka Edward Cullen is the ultimate vampire?

Pffft.


Right.

This woman obviously is delusional. I mean....really?

Allow me to illustrate to further prove my point:

John Osbourne, king of the husbands

John is such a kick ass husband. I mean, really. There is no question.

I recently accidentally broke my laptop screen. After doing some research, discovered its not that difficult to replace. Ordered replacment parts.

After the parts came in, John surprised me and replaced the screen for me, after watching the "how to" video on you tube ONCE. (have I ever mentioned John has a very high IQ?)

Last night, while watching Bones, there was some silly part of the show where Angela and Jack were reading  Aristoo's poem, and it said something along the lines of: "She is my carboreator...."

John turned to me and said: "April, you're my jack stand".


So sweet.

I responded by saying that he is my flashlight. I'd be stumbling around lost in the dark without him.

John Osbourne = King of the Husbands!

Solving Murders Takes Chemistry