How do you say goodbye to someone when their time comes too soon? My Aunt Terri was a dynamo, a homemaker, entertainer, and lover of animals. She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend.

She and my uncle turned the family homestead into a showplace, inside and out- all done with love. She always had animals around of the four footed variety and loved to have them underfoot. They raised 2 wonderful boys who have grown into incredible young men.

She loved Halloween,it was her favorite time of year.  A few years ago she threw a big Halloween bash complete with a fortune teller and  of course costumes were a requirement. We all had so much fun. 

She had an illness that she never spoke much of, one developed while a young teenager. In the last year she had her medical struggles, but never made a big deal of them- she preferred to be quiet about it. Last fall we learned that a transplant was going to have to be a reality, and this spring it came to be an urgent requirement.

We got word last weekend that it was go time, and the family descended to the hospital for support (for her, the boys, and my uncle). The surgery was delayed several times - waiting for the donor hospital to get the process started. She finally went down to the OR the next morning for her procedure. Despite the efforts of her excellent medical team, she slipped away from this world.

I am not a very religious person, and struggle to understand the reason why He called her home. None of us were ready to say goodbye- especially her boys.

You know there are risks for any surgery, especially one as long and complex as this one. Yet, we didn't think this would ever be a possibility. We fully expected to hear she was in recovery and that she made it through with flying colors.  It seems like a horrible nightmare that we can't seem to wake from.

Aunt Terri, I will miss you greatly, and hope you are now at peace and pain free. I will miss your smile, your loving nature, your sarcasm and sense of humor (the Donovan genes are strong there). I hope you have reunited with Grandma and Grandpa, Speckles, Tucker and Murphy, and are now watching over your family. We'll miss you.