Sherrill and Connie
Left to right: Sherrill and Connie
By Sherrill — her sister Connie is a participant from Michigan
The story of Sherrill and Connie began in 1950 when Connie joined her 4 year old sister. From the beginning it was obvious that these 2 girls were going to have a special bond. Sherrill was a big help to her Mom. Like an angel, she looked out for Connie, kept her from getting into things, and made her laugh. Thus began their relationship that has continued to this day. No matter what life stage they were in, from toddler to teen to wife to mother, Sherrill always looked out for Connie, kept her from getting into things, and made her laugh. Connie lived in California and Michigan, while Sherrill primarily lived in St. Louis, but the geographic separation had no influence on their sisterly closeness.
Somewhere in their early 20s the 4 year age gap between the 2 women got narrower and narrower then disappeared. As each supported the other, sharing triumphs and heartaches through boyfriends, engagements, marriage, children and divorce, they switched roles. When necessary, Connie became the "big sister" and was there to look out for Sherrill, keep her from getting into things, and make her laugh.
No one knows you better or longer than a sibling. No one can be as honest with you as a sibling can be. When Sherrill called Connie and shared the first painful words that pre-told what would later lead to the discovery of Sherrill's breast cancer, Connie knew her own concerns and misgivings would have to take a backseat to the need to be 100% there for Sherrill and hear and feel Sherrill's pain and absorb HER concerns and misgivings -- to try and be what Sherrill needed to weather the storm that was coming at her full force and that ultimately she would have to walk through on her own.
No amount of love and caring could shield Sherrill from the pain and adjustment of the next few months and years, but she adjusted, she grew, and she triumphed. Most importantly, she reached out to other women with her story, with hope, and with encouragement. Sherrill founded "The Breakfast Club," a support organization for women and men dealing with the impact of breast cancer. Many women have their own testimonials about the impact that "The Breakfast Club" in general, and Sherrill in particular, had on their coping and recovery from breast cancer.
Now Connie has to share her sister-angel with, it seems, all of St. Louis as, one by one, they discover what Sherrill's family and friends have always known - she is a uniquely special person with a seemingly limitless capacity to give of herself to others.
Sherrill is a firm believer in the importance of the Sister Study, and serves on their Recruitment and Retention Advisory Board. Connie is a Sister Study participant.