Twelve-year-old Skylar Adams missed the sound of her mother’s voice. Sherri Lovell Adams died Aug. 27, 2011, at the too-young age of 44. Skylar and her sisters, Summer, 23, and Tiffany, 17, were grieving, but Skylar was also afraid: She couldn’t quite remember the sound of her mother’s voice.

If it faded, would other memories fade, too?

She took her concerns to her aunt, Donnette Smith, Sherri’s big sister. Though grieving herself over the loss of her fun-loving, vivacious sister, Donnette and Sherri’s four other siblings had taken the girls and their dad Ricky under their wings, trying to ease their pain.

Skylar’s wish to remember her mother’s voice broke Donnette’s heart. This was one problem she couldn’t fix. Or could she?

Recalling a fun family getaway to Gatlinburg the previous winter, Donnette checked her cell phone voice mail. Sure enough, there was Sherri’s voice. The impish Sherri, feeling the holiday spirit, had been going from bed to bed at the lodge, pestering family members who were trying to sleep. When she was finally shooed back to her own room, Sherri called her sisters’ cell phones and left messages.

Donnette copied the message on recordable photo frames and placed photos of Sherri inside, then presented them to Skylar, Tiffany and Summer. Now, when she misses her mom, Skylar is not only reminded of her mother’s voice, but her love of life. At the touch of a button, she hears: “’Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring …  just Sherri.” One of Sherri’s huge belly laughs follows.



The fighter



Donnette hopes Sherri’s story is one that will help educate other women. Though Sherri had seemingly conquered breast cancer, she contracted an infection after her heart was weakened, a weakness Donnette believes was caused by chemotherapy treatments.

“Her crazy sense of humor and her undeniable laughter was silenced and our world became a more somber place without her,” she said.

Women should be aware of any potential side effects of treatment, Donnette said.

Sherri worked as a registered nurse at Limestone Health Facility and thought she was informed about her cancer treatment.

“She had fought breast cancer at age 34 and had thought her battle was over. She had a double mastectomy and chemotherapy and underwent multiple surgeries for reconstruction,” Donnette said. “She was fighting to stay alive for her three girls — Summer, Tiffany and Skylar — and her husband Ricky. Unfortunately, and unknown to her, her heart was damaged from the fierce treatment, which was necessary to make sure the cancer was gone.” Donnette, executive vice president with The Mended Hearts Inc., will be the featured speaker at the Red Hot for Heart Wine Tasting sponsored by Athens-Limestone Hospital’s Love of My Life Fund. The event will be from 7-9 p.m. Friday at Canebrake Club in Athens. Tickets are $75 for couples, $40 for individuals. Contact Lory Walmsley at 256-233-9122 or lorw@alhnet.org.

Donnette, who founded the Huntsville chapter of The Mended Hearts and now sits on the national board, is helping start a chapter in Athens in conjunction with the hospital. The organization offers information and support to heart patients and their families. Its volunteers visit patients in the hospital, online or by phone.

In addition, the national group is adding a project called Mended Little Hearts for children with congenital heart defects. For more information, visit www.mendedlittlehearts.org.

Donnette is no stranger to heart trouble. She has undergone three open-heart surgeries and has five stints.  

She brings Sherri’s story and her own to other women in hopes they will learn to ask questions and be tested for any problems.

When Sherri began having trouble breathing, she thought it was due to recurrence of childhood asthma. She was unaware her heart was in a weakened state, making it more difficult to fight infection. “In the summer of 2011, she contracted food poisoning which attacked her heart, leaving her in congestive heart failure, liver failure and kidney failure,” Donnette said. “She waged her strongest battle yet against insurmountable odds, attending her girls’ ballgames when she was so weak she couldn’t climb the steps to the bleachers.”

Sherri found the strength to accompany Summer when she went to pick out a wedding dress for her June wedding to Drew Stanford. Sherri carried a photo of her daughter in the wedding gown, knowing she might not be around for the ceremony.

When Sherri died, Summer was devastated at the thought of never seeing Sherri in a mother-of-the-bride dress.

Donnette took Summer shopping, picking out just the right dress.

Sherri was buried in it.

Coping with the loss of someone whose spirit infused a family is nearly unbearable but Donnette and Sherri’s other siblings cope by bringing attention to Sherri’s favorite cause, breast cancer awareness.

“Sherri lived her life helping others and it makes us very proud to know that her legacy continues,” Donnette said. “Sherri was bigger than life and to know that she is still helping others means everything to those who knew and loved her.”