Shiann Lockhart, 2, held by her mother, Cora, shows a rabbit at the Madison County Fair while Beverly McGinnis, judge for small animals, provides encouragement. Addie Wilkin (far right) leant her rabbit, Smoky, for the special occasion.
(Posted July 20, 2016)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
On July 14, the Lockhart family checked another item off of little Shiann’s bucket list.
The 2-year-old from London showed a rabbit at the Madison County Fair and received a special “Heartbeat of 4-H” award from the junior fair board.
Over the last several weeks, Shiann also has ridden in a police helicopter, seen a private movie theater showing of “Finding Dory,” celebrated graduation in her backyard, and enjoyed Christmas in July, complete with a decorated tree and fake snow filling her baby pool.
“We had 20 things on the list at first, but now we’re up to 74,” said Shiann’s mother, Cora.
Cora and Troy Lockhart came up with the bucket list idea after bringing their daughter home for hospice care in May. Born with multiple heart defects, Shiann received a heart transplant when she was 5 weeks old. Earlier this year, she was diagnosed with a type of cancer to which transplant patients are susceptible. When chemotherapy was too hard on Shiann, her parents decided to cease treatments.
“We started thinking about everything we wanted her to do before she passes,” Cora said about the list.
Once word got out, friends, family and even strangers started pitching in to make the list items a reality. Judy Gallimore, Madison County 4-H key leader for small animals, helped to make the rabbit showing experience possible. Cora showed rabbits, lambs, hogs and other projects at the fair when she was in 4-H, and her family and Gallimore’s family are close friends. Gallimore’s niece, Addie Wilkin, leant her rabbit, “Smoky,” for the occasion.
As for what she hopes others gain from Shiann’s story, Cora said, “To live like she does, be happy, live for the moment.”
