Deaths of an Iowa Mother, Child Raise Mental Health Awareness
Sherri Sinclair hopes the story of the deaths of her daughter and grandson will help others prevent tragedies related to mental illnesses.
Sherri Sinclair
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Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
This Inspiring Story Brought to You by Grape-Nuts
An Iowa Woman's Honesty Raises Mental Health Awareness
Sherri Sinclair hopes the story of the death of her daughter and grandson will help others prevent tragedies related to mental illnesses.
About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains. It was a harrowing story, but Sherri Sinclair told it. Last fall, Sinclair spoke out after the death of her daughter, Kelli Sly, and her grandson, Gavin Sly. Kelli killed Gavin, her son, and then died by suicide. Prior to her death, Sly showed signs of depression. By telling Sly’s story, Sinclair hopes to raise awareness of mental health-related issues in her community of Waukee, Iowa, and elsewhere. Since Sinclair took on this challenge, she’s joined several organizations that aim to prevent suicide and help …
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Monday, December 3, 2012
A Family Tragedy (Part 2): The Last Days
How would you react if you found out your child had taken her own life and the life of your grandchild? Sherri Sinclair knows.
Editor's Note: The first part of this two-part series ran on Sunday, Dec. 2. You can read it here. Sherri Sinclair had a tumultuous relationship with her daughter, Kelli Sly. At times the Waukee woman and her 23-year-old daughter were close as they planned how to help Kelli fight her demons, care for her son and find work. Then, problems would crop up and Sinclair would be shut out of her daughter's life and, by extension, her grandson Gavin's life, too. Despite the struggle, what happened last March was unimaginable -- Kelli killed her 2-year-old son and the next day killed herself by driving her car into a concrete bridge support. Sinclair chose to tell Kelli's story not only because it's cathartic, but because she hopes it might shed …
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Sunday, December 2, 2012
A Family Tragedy (Part 1): A Mother's Struggle to Help Her Daughter
In March, Waukee High School graduate Kelli Sly took her own life and the life of her 2-year-old son. Her 23 years were a struggle, says her mother, Sherri Sinclair.
First of two parts Nine months ago, Kelli Sly, a 23-year-old single mom with a history of behavioral issues, insurmountable demons and depression, took the life of her 2-year-old son, Gavin, and the next day killed herself. For Sly's mother, Sherri Sinclair of Waukee, what happened on March 24 and 25 closed the window on years of anger, frustration and illness and opened a door to unimaginable sadness. "She was very unhappy on this Earth," says Sinclair of Kelli. "I hate that they’re both gone, but I know why Gavin is with her and I'm glad. I'm not OK that they’re gone, but I’m OK that they’re together." Sinclair chose to tell Kelli's story not only because it's cathartic, but because she hopes it might shed light on the difficulties of …
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A Family Tragedy: Recognizing the Signs and How to Get Help for Mental Illness
Kelli Sly's battle with mental illness ultimately led to her demise. Would you recognize the signs and would you know how to get help for you or your loved one?
Depression, to whatever degree, can often be confused or overlooked, especially in young people. Jeff Kerber, clinic administrator for Iowa Health Counseling Centers, says depression is categorized as having five or more symptoms that include sadness, guilt, irritability, loss of energy, loss of interest, changes in sleep, appetite changes and suicidal thoughts. In an interview earlier this year, Kerber said one thing to keep in mind when trying to assess a person's level of depression is whether they appear different from their usual self. "The first thing to sort out is how someone's mood differs from their norm," he said. "Maybe they're always in a transient mood, pretty down or frustrated. The critical thing is to what degree is that …
maxine weimer
10:46 am on Sunday, December 2, 2012
Depression is a very sad thing. In children it is even worse. My 16 year old nephew hung himself in the barn last year.My sister was devestated and still is. I believe he was being bullied at school and it may have contributed to this outcome. more ›
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Coming Sunday: A Waukee Mother Shares Her Family's Tragedy
Sherri Sinclair of Waukee shares the story of how her family was destroyed by mental illness. Her 23-year-old daughter, Kelli Sly, killed her 2-year-old son and then herself in March.
Sherri Sinclair's life has a hole in it, a wound caused by the deaths of her daughter and grandson. A loss caused by mental illness, which Sinclair says led her daughter, Kelli Sly, a 23-year-old single mom with a history of behavioral issues and personal turmoil, to take the life of her 2-year-old son, Gavin, last March. Sly then killed herself by driving her car into a concrete bridge support. For Sly's mother, Sinclair of Waukee, what happened on March 24 and 25 closed the window on years of anger, frustration and illness and opened a door to unimaginable sadness. Eight months after their deaths, Sinclair is telling Kelli and Gavin's story with the hope that people will understand the gravity of mental illness and the pain it can …
Melissa
3:00 pm on Sunday, December 2, 2012
Mental illness is a problem that gets over looked alot of times in public and even in homes.We should follow our hearts and first mind.Its came to the horrible point where if you suffer from mental issues your labled crazy and looked down apon. How can a person struggling and in need of help go get the help they need with out support.We need to come togther and lead by example of concern and … more ›
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
What Went Wrong With Waukee Grad Who Killed Son, Self? (OPINION)
What Kelli Sly did to her young son and herself is incomprehensible -- until you understand that depression is more than just a bout of sadness.
You probably didn't know Kelli Sly, but in the last couple days, you've probably heard a lot about her. The 23-year-old Waukee High School graduate made headlines over the weekend for allegedly killing her 2 year-old son, Gavin and then taking her own life by crashing her car into a concrete bridge support. I bet I know what you're thinking, "How could she?" That's what I thought too when I first heard the news. As a mom of three, stories like Sly's punch me right in the gut. I can't imagine how a mother could be driven to take the life of her own child and then her own. Or can I? Honestly, yeah, I can. In fact, if Kelli Sly were alive right now and she had confided in me that she was in a dark place and felt lost and unhappy, I'd tell you…
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Brady Sinclair
7:11 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Jody, words can't describe how significant this piece means to me. My mom, Sherri Sinclair showed me this article and it honestly added a comforting perspective to this whole tragic situation. No one can truly understand what it's like unless you've been there yourself. Thank you so much for your humble opinion. Most people just want to exploit a tragic situation like this in the news, but not … more ›
maxine weimer
10:24 am on Monday, December 3, 2012
I feel so bad for Sherri having to deal with not only the deaths of her daughter and grandson but also everything she had to endure during all those other attempts of suicide. It's hard to read some else's mind. And sometimes your own children are the hardest to understand. The sollice here is that I believe thier spirits are together now in a happy place where Kelli no longer has demons to deal … more ›