Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #441

Kari, you are in our hearts! Photo by John Shirreffs

Dear Friends,

It has been such a touching weekend…but I must say in so many different ways. Life has a way of being like this. There were 2 birthdays I honored…My dear pal, Charles, here at the farm and my owner’s wonderful MOM, Jean. Then MY JOHN and Dottie attended their niece’s wedding celebration and it was all so special.

On the horse front, BLACK CAVIAR won #19…. ANIMAL KINGDOM won his comeback race with style, and some very impressive 3 year olds celebrated victories around the country. All of this so much fun to watch and enjoy!

Then, on our Zenyatta. com home front, our dear KARI BUSSELL, one of my most loving and endearing fans passed away on February 17th. Her daughter let all of us know by posting on the site….and so many have responded with love and heartfelt sympathy.

I did meet KARI and would like to share with you some of her words that she shared with our friend, Steve Haskin. Steve sent them to Dottie over the weekend.

The photo above is very significant as standing by this fence at Churchill Downs the Sunday after Breeders’ Cup in 2010 is where I first met her. At this time, she knew she was very ill. This heart was made that day by fans for ME. I am sharing it with KARI, her family, and all of you this morning along with some of her OWN WORDS all written at that time.

“I try to find joy (Zenyatta gives me much) and pretend this (illness) is not happening, if that makes sense. I love to laugh. Just so you know on Sunday afternoon….I was making my husband go back to Churchill Downs to see the Barbaro statue. I am an avid (horse racing) fan. Okay, so in looking for Churchill Downs to see Barbaro we got lost and there SHE was. It still blows my mind how that happened. “

Frank and I visiting with the fans. We did this quite a bit that day!

“It is really Zenyatta’s story. I thank God for her, Mr. Shirreffs (my hero), Dottie, The Moss’ and all of them. I love them all for their love and care for Z and all horses. Frank is the one I hold very dear. He was the one who made it happen. I picked up leaves, a stick, and an acorn from the spot it happened. I only need to look at them or shut my eyes and joy runs through my veins.”

“He made sure I got to feel Zenyatta’s right ear graze my fingertip through the fence. It was very emotional for me. He teared up watching me. It was the highlight of my life. My dying wish was to just touch her once. I know in my heart she is the reason I am still alive today and have thus far defied the odds and what Doctors told me. She inspired me to never give up. Plus I refused to go anywhere until her story was finished. I am terminally ill and want to write to him (Frank) and tell him what that meant to me and thank him.”

She did!

As you can see from Kari’s words, I have been extremely blessed to be around so many loving and giving people. She goes on to say how so many people were there on that Sunday afternoon and I even had a cake sent to ME over the fence. So many memories…so many treasured moments…so many wonderful people.

I would like KARI’S FAMILY to know from the bottom of my heart, how much all of her kind words, love, and respect means to ME and MY TEAM. We will definitely THANK FRANK AGAIN for his thoughtfulness and helping to make something very special happen for KARI on that November day in 2010!

With Love,
Hugs to all~ (Blessings to KARI and HER FAMILY!)
Z

Reader Interactions

340 Comments

  2. / Reply

    my prayers are with KARI BUSSELL’s family and that she may find peace at last….hope You and Tasty and the little ones are doing great….time is moving along it won’t be long before the little ones are romping around the paddock with their mothers….MUUAH …HAVE A BLESSED DAY

  3. / Reply

    When I posted above I had not read through the postings. WOW, Trina nobody has ever done anything like that for me. What a wonderful birthday present. Just simply saying thank you seems so totally inadequate, but thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to write that. It brought tears. That and my parents taking me to lunch ( we are very close and my father will be 83 this July) are the total highlights of this day. It just underscores again what a wonderful thing Zenyatta (and her Team) has done in bringing together so many wonderful people to share things with. Again thank you.

  4. / Reply

    What an amazing story! Blessings to you and your team for bringing so much joy to this unfortunate woman and to her family.

  5. / Reply

    Oh, how I wish I could find the words to express my feelings as well as some of you, but instead I will say thank you all for saying the things that are in my heart. I am so sorry to read about Kari’s passing, she was so beautiful in all of her messages here and in the videos she created. My heart goes out to her family. Thank you so much, Dottie, for being our voice of Zenyatta and bringing us all the news whether good or bad. Congratulations on your niece’s wedding and birthday wishes for Jean and Charles! You give us so much and I am unable to explain how much it means. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. Thank you, Kari, for sharing with all of us – may you rest in peace.

  6. / Reply

    Dottie: such a comforting post today, you always know just what to say. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts..

    Zenyatta: Thank you for being YOU. You have a very special flare about you and everyone recognizes it. Such a CLASSY horse you are.
    I LOVE you. Hugs and kisses to you and TT and special belly kisses to your foals. XOXO

  7. / Reply

    Zenyatta ~ You have blessed so many hearts by being in this world. Thank you for sharing Kari’s words, which caused tears to well, and prompted feelings of gratitude for all you and your Team have done and do. You were magic to racing but your greater purpose is your myriad acts of kindness and love. Long may your legacy of love live in the hearts of all who love horses and You!
    I love you Zen.
    Mary Ann

  8. / Reply

    “There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle” (Albert Einstein)

    @ ALL: Dedicated to all the miracles at Zenyatta’s meeting place including, of course, Missy Z herself!

  11. / Reply

    For SUSAN in TN, sending healing prayers for your CHESTER! :)

    Much HAPPINESS and LOVE to DOTTIE’S NIECE! :)

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY to CHARLES and JEAN! And to everyone else having a birthday this
    month of February, as well! :)

    CINDY, sending continued GOOD HEALTH PRAYERS your way! :)

    THANKS and BLESSINGS TO ALL for the MOST WONDERFUL and LOVING POSTS
    that everyone has sent in today and always! :)

    PEACE,
    KATHY from SoCal xoxo

  12. / Reply

    Dear Zenyatta and Dottie:

    Thank you for sharing Kari’s words with us. What a wonderful tribute to her.

    Zenny you have filled the lives of many with joy that only they can explain.

    My sincere condolences to the family of Kari. My thoughts and prayers go out to them.

    Again thanks for sharing her thoughts and words with us.

    Love and Hugs, Marilu

  13. / Reply

    My deepest sympathy to Kari’s family and to all her friends here. We all lost someone very special.
    Love to all,
    Leslie

  14. / Reply

    God bless Kari. What a beautiful tribute to an obviously very special lady. You and your family are in my prayers. Kari, now you can look down from heaven and look after all the special horses.

  15. / Reply

    Hi Zenny. What a touching and sad story. My condolances to the family. See Zenny, you are the life line to sooo many people. It`s your strengh that we look to when things become rough. I` have looked to you several times for that. Love you and your team (Dottie) very much!!! Alene

  17. / Reply

    Zenyatta, I don’t know Kari, but I am still sorry for the passing of one of your biggest fans. There seems to have been a very big turnout for her funeral.

  18. / Reply

    Dottie, dear voice of our Zenyatta–your message today makes it impossible to not fall in love with you and with Zenny again…such empathy and sincerity. Dottie, your words move me deeply and I will love you and Zenyatta for all the rest of my days. Thank you for your kindness in this delicate situation and thank you for all you do for Zenny and for us…
    love
    Skip

  19. / Reply

    Dear Dottie,
    If Kari were not already in Seventh Heaven, today’s Diary entry would surely have sent her there. She would have been so euphoric, her heart so full to bursting with joy and excitement, that I am afraid she might have suffered internal combustion. For the many who love her so very much, our hearts are full to bursting, too, with pride at reading her brave and beautiful words, which speak of her tremendous love of Zenyatta and Team Z.
    Kari’s devotion to Zenyatta was a love affair in its purest form. From the first time she saw her, Zenyatta hung the moon, scattered the stars, and lit the sun in Kari’s world. She credited Zenyatta for keeping her alive throughout three years of besting the odds, defying the statistics, and dumbfounding the doctors time-after-time. Despite the fact that life dealt her more than a few bad hands from its bag of nasty tricks, I never once heard her use the word “unfair”; but I did hear her speak the word “JOY” at least a thousand times. Zenyatta was the wellspring of that joy.
    She always mentioned Frank Leal with the greatest emotion, acknowledging his random act of kindness for making her most treasured wish “to just touch her once” come true. Kari wanted Frank to know almost more than anything, what this gesture had meant to her. Her dream has finally come full-circle.
    Dottie, it means infinitely much to Kari’s family and friends to see her honored in such a special way. Thank you. She admired and thought the world of you. The lovely “♥” photo taken by your John could not have said it any more perfectly. She loved and respected him deeply, and always referred to him as “Hero.” Thank you for putting the best smile on our faces than we have had in days. We feel sure that, somewhere, Kari is smiling, too.

    • / Reply

      My wonderful, Cynthia H, thank you for the fantastic post. It brought such joy to my heart!!!! Kari loved life and she loved you!!! It always gave my spirit such a lift when I would finishing reading a message she had sent to me and I would see so many wonderful words wishing me joy and love in the closing. Her last words to me were so very special and I will treasure them and my memories of Kari, forever.

    • / Reply

      Cynthia, such a beautiful post, I am crying again, probably the 100th time over the past few days. But in these tears there is a little of the special sunshine and joy that Kari demonstrated, through her post to most of us. I can only imagine how she shined to those who were blessed to be in her presence. I know that she is in heaven free of pain and wrapped in that love and joy she so freely shared. Who knows…she may have already had a preview of Baby Z. :)

      Dottie, Thank you for the beautiful post today. Happy belated Birthday to Jean and Charles. Hope they both had a very special day. Best Wishes to your niece and her new husband. Wishing God’s Blessing on them all.

      Good night everyone. xoxo

  20. / Reply

    Today’s Diary entry was sooo moving and heart felt! Thank you for sharing Kari’s words and Thank Steve Haskin for allowing that to happen! I don’t know what else to say that hasn’t already been said. So, I will echoe all of the above!
    Zenny, we’re getting so close now!!! I’m starting to Pace again!
    Lisa, Happy Birthday to a dear friend! I hope you’re day is filled with happiness and magic! Big Hugs to you! I’m so happy that we’re friends and that we were brought together through our love of Zenyatta! Big, Happy B-Day Hug to you! :)

  21. / Reply

    I am so saddened to read of our beloved Kari’s passing. She loved you so much Zenyatta you and your connections will never realize completely how much you were able to help her.
    I truly believe she is healed now and with our Lord. She is one of his angels surely.
    She will look out heven’s gate each and every day just to check and see how you are doing dear Zeny. We were so fortunate to have had her in our lives via this website.
    Thank you Dottie for sharing her beautiful words and may be lovely videos be with us always. Love and prayers to her family.

  22. / Reply

    Team Z – Thanks for writing so movingly about Kari, whom most of us never met, except here, where among her abundant qualities, she was funny, always up for a good laugh, courageous beyond words, and left an indelible remembrance of her lovingly-crafted music videos of Zenyatta. We shant forget her.

  24. / Reply

    Zenny, I love you!! Rest in peace, Kari. Tell Ruffian, Secretariat and Barbaro how much I love and miss them. To Kari’s family: my thoughts and wishes are with you at this very difficult time. I am sending you love and hugs from Merrill, Wisconsin.

  25. / Reply

    What a beautiful post today, Zenny. It brought me to tears. I am so glad that Kari got to meet you. What a special group of people that made that possible! It restores my faith in humanity. I love you, Zenyatta, and all of your connections. You’re all just amazing. R.I.P. Kari. I know you’re watching over our Queen right now.

  28. / Reply

    Dear Zenny, Dottie and to All Zsters:
    I just learned of Kari’s passing this afternoon. I was reading Zenny’s dairy over lunch and couldn’t hold back the tears. I am still crying. Dottie, this post is such a beautiful tribute to Kari.

    You could just tell through Kari’s posts just what a beautiful and thoughtful person she was. Zenny, it is amazing just how much JOY you brought into Kari’s life. And what is really amazing is that through all Kari’s struggles with suffering and such misery her illness brought– she was able to find JOY in LIFE through you Zenny. And she shared that JOY with all of us. We were all so very lucky to have known Kari through her caring posts and videos. The thing I learned from Kari was what it means to experience JOY. Not happiness, but JOY.

    With such a heavy heart, I find it heartbreaking that she didn’t get to see Zenny’s baby. I can only imagine how she must have clung on to the hope that each day she would make it to see pictures of Zenny’s foal. It is so heartbreaking.

    Cynthia H: You mentioned that Kari never used the word “unfair” but to me this was unfair that she missed seeing pictures of Zenny’s baby by only a couple of weeks. How sad!

    Trina: I read your posts from the weekend and it seems from Kari’s last entry, just days before she passed, she seemed to know this time around she was on very measured time.

    To Kari’s Family—My deepest and most heartfelt sympathy. Kari will be so missed. May you find peace during this very sad time.

    To all Zsters: All of us indeed lost someone very special. Kari’s love for Zenyatta will continue to live on in each of us.

  30. / Reply

    Very touching blog today…brought me to tears reading how Kari’s life was so deeply touched from her special encounter with Z that day. Awesome!

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