Our Mom, Sherry Moman, was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer and passed away… all within 5 weeks. It was a very sudden diagnosis and even more rapid decline. Diagnosed on October 3, 2019 she didn’t even have the chance to get her stitches out from her port placement before passing away on November 3, 2019. Our family is still struggling to find peace with her sudden passing, but we are so grateful she is no longer in pain.
Mom had a full hysterectomy and ovaries removed due to severe endometriosis 20 years ago… all it took was one little cancer cell that must have been hiding and growing. Mom developed a cough and fever early September 2019. As the fevers and cough persisted throughout the month and after several rounds of antibiotics, a close Dr. friend urged her to come in and see him. Incredible how things can change in the blink of any eye as metastatic adenocarcinoma of the liver was found on October 3, 2019. Meaning the cancer started somewhere and it had spread. A few weeks later on my dad’s birthday my bother, dad, mom and I sat in the oncologist’s office and learned our mom had ovarian cancer… the primary cancer which had spread.
Over the course of the month mom rapidly developed severe abdominal pain, distended stomach, cognitive confusion and instability. She quickly lost the ability to work on her iPad, text or walk by herself. After being admitted to the hospital on October 30, 2019, updated tests confirmed her liver continued to swell in size due to the tumors which caused so much pressure and pain.
On November 3, 2019 Mom’s body just couldn’t fight any longer and she went into liver failure. Both mine and my brother’s family with all 6 grandkids and her brother came in town to surround her with love and adoration. We circled around her and reminisced about her favorite times at the Outer Banks and her sweet southern cooking. It’s like she was waiting to have all her kids and grandkids in one room circling her in love. Mom passed away that same evening at 11:40. After our family left for the evening, she quickly slipped away as we held each of her hands. Just like how her cancer took over her body and mind, it was quick. And we could’t be more thankful for that.
We are so grateful for our Mom and who she was and how she lived her life. She was graceful. She was subtle. And she was always serving others… especially through her cooking. From family dinners, holiday celebration, bible study group gatherings and to the Outer Banks Cocktail circles, our most treasured memories with Mom are centered around her cooking. We can’t think of a better way to honor her life than to share the recipes she put so much love into. Our hope is you will cook her recipes with just as much love as she did and sit around the table creating memories with your own family.
Why Sherry Baby? Well that was Dad’s pet name for her. They were married for 47 years and we are so grateful for what they have taught our entire family about relationships and love. And how powerful that can be. My dad was forced to become her full time care taker literally over night… I don’t think anything can prepare you for that. It’s cruel and unfair. But I can tell you one thing, all of us would be unbelievably fortunate to have someone like him during such an awful time. The way he loved and still loves our mom is absolutely beautiful.
We can’t thank our friends and family enough for the immense support. Although this time has been so heartbreaking for our family…. the outpouring of love and support has been extremely comforting. Mom was my biggest champion of my work for kids with cancer and their families through the Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF), a pediatric cancer foundation in Charlotte, NC. In Mom’s honor friends and family have donated almost $8,200 to ISF for pediatric cancer. And even though our hearts are still hurting, our hearts couldn’t be more full. Inspired by her story, you can donate in honor of our Mom, Mimi and Sherry Baby today.
Enjoy Mom’s recipes and the decades of love she put into them. Thank you to my brother, Lee, who created this blog and cataloged all her recipes so that all of us can continue Mom’s legacy in our own kitchens with the ones we love.
Much Love & Bon Appétit,
Rachel Wood (Sherry’s Daughter)