Family Profile #1: My Mother
Reference Name: Mom
Date Of Birth: 5/24/39
Date Of Death: 11/18/98
Best Memory: Singing to her at her birthday party. She was standing front and center and everyone else was talking and ignoring me. I was 15 at the time. She is and will always be my biggest fan.
I miss my mother very much. She died when I was 18 from Breast Cancer. I remember visiting her in the hospital a lot because it was about 30 minutes from my college. I would go and sing to her and try to make her smile. She was uncomfortable and I knew it. That is probably what hurt me the most. To see her lying there and not being able to help. She would always ask me to sing to her. She was by far my biggest fan. I could always trust her and ask her for advice. I remember seeing the smile on her face when I graduated from High school. I was on the platform so my parents got special seating. She was so happy about it all. I remember when I told her that I got accepted to the college that I wanted to go to. She was so proud of me. I tried to call my mom every day that I could during my freshman year of college. It was rough being a freshman in college away from your parents and your home. I remember one phone call in particular. It was April 1998. My mom called my dorm room. She didn't sound like her usual self. So I asked her what was wrong. She told me that she had breast cancer and that the doctors had given her about 6 months to live. Immediately, I cried. To realize that the one person that showed you any type of love would be taken away in a matter of months was so heartbreaking for me. I was literally crushed. At 18, I was not ready to deal with the pain, the loss, and the sorrow. After the phone conversation, I remember sitting in my room crying for hours. That whole summer was spent making sure that my mom was taken to every doctor's appointment that I could take her to. I changed my life forever. I know longer was a teenager. I was forced to grow up due to circumstance. At the end of the summer, I had the hardest time going back to school. I almost dropped out but my mom wouldn't have it. So I went back to school in the fall but my mind was so focused on my mother that I really wasn't there. The only thing that kept me focused was going to daily chorus rehearsals. For those of you that don't know the Morgan State University Choir, you should know that they are one of the best choirs in the world. They traveled everywhere. Since my freshman year, I had the priviledge of being a part of the Morgan State University Singers, which was the advanced and traveling choir. Because I was a freshman, I always felt intimidated by the other guys in my section. But my sophomore year, I came out of my shell. I became a leader. Well on November 18th, 1998, the choir was rehearsing the Brahm's Requiem. A beautiful piece. Very passionate. On that day, my voice elevated beyond belief. I remember everyone looking at me and saying that there was something special about my voice that day. Dr. Carter, the great maestro, even called me out for a solo that day. He used me as an example for my peers. The one thing that puzzles me is that my voice never got tired. It was like angels were singing for me. I left the choir rehearsal feeling uplifted and confident. I remember going to the cafeteria with a few friends. While we were eating, I notice that my room mate walks in from the exit. I thought that was kind of odd. He came over to me to tell me that my sister was outside waiting for me. So naturally, I took my tray up and went to meet my sister. My sister informed that my mom had passed away. At that moment, my heart hit the floor. I lost all sense of realness. I was completely lost. Without any pause, I got into the car and we drove to my sister's house where my mom was. I was not prepared to walk into the door. I stayed outside for a long time. Everyone was telling me to come in but I took it really hard. So I went in to say my final good byes to my mother. I think I cried for every step that I took. It was a heart gripping moment. One that I never wanted to feel again. I told my mom that I loved her and I would do everything in my power to make her proud. So now, I strive to be the best that I can be for myself but also because I know that my mom is looking down on me and pushing me every step of the way. Some people want to make it in the business to be rich and famous. I don't. Yea it is nice to have that with it but at the end of the day, I just want to do what my mom always wanted me to do. She is my driving force.
Date Of Birth: 5/24/39
Date Of Death: 11/18/98
Best Memory: Singing to her at her birthday party. She was standing front and center and everyone else was talking and ignoring me. I was 15 at the time. She is and will always be my biggest fan.
I miss my mother very much. She died when I was 18 from Breast Cancer. I remember visiting her in the hospital a lot because it was about 30 minutes from my college. I would go and sing to her and try to make her smile. She was uncomfortable and I knew it. That is probably what hurt me the most. To see her lying there and not being able to help. She would always ask me to sing to her. She was by far my biggest fan. I could always trust her and ask her for advice. I remember seeing the smile on her face when I graduated from High school. I was on the platform so my parents got special seating. She was so happy about it all. I remember when I told her that I got accepted to the college that I wanted to go to. She was so proud of me. I tried to call my mom every day that I could during my freshman year of college. It was rough being a freshman in college away from your parents and your home. I remember one phone call in particular. It was April 1998. My mom called my dorm room. She didn't sound like her usual self. So I asked her what was wrong. She told me that she had breast cancer and that the doctors had given her about 6 months to live. Immediately, I cried. To realize that the one person that showed you any type of love would be taken away in a matter of months was so heartbreaking for me. I was literally crushed. At 18, I was not ready to deal with the pain, the loss, and the sorrow. After the phone conversation, I remember sitting in my room crying for hours. That whole summer was spent making sure that my mom was taken to every doctor's appointment that I could take her to. I changed my life forever. I know longer was a teenager. I was forced to grow up due to circumstance. At the end of the summer, I had the hardest time going back to school. I almost dropped out but my mom wouldn't have it. So I went back to school in the fall but my mind was so focused on my mother that I really wasn't there. The only thing that kept me focused was going to daily chorus rehearsals. For those of you that don't know the Morgan State University Choir, you should know that they are one of the best choirs in the world. They traveled everywhere. Since my freshman year, I had the priviledge of being a part of the Morgan State University Singers, which was the advanced and traveling choir. Because I was a freshman, I always felt intimidated by the other guys in my section. But my sophomore year, I came out of my shell. I became a leader. Well on November 18th, 1998, the choir was rehearsing the Brahm's Requiem. A beautiful piece. Very passionate. On that day, my voice elevated beyond belief. I remember everyone looking at me and saying that there was something special about my voice that day. Dr. Carter, the great maestro, even called me out for a solo that day. He used me as an example for my peers. The one thing that puzzles me is that my voice never got tired. It was like angels were singing for me. I left the choir rehearsal feeling uplifted and confident. I remember going to the cafeteria with a few friends. While we were eating, I notice that my room mate walks in from the exit. I thought that was kind of odd. He came over to me to tell me that my sister was outside waiting for me. So naturally, I took my tray up and went to meet my sister. My sister informed that my mom had passed away. At that moment, my heart hit the floor. I lost all sense of realness. I was completely lost. Without any pause, I got into the car and we drove to my sister's house where my mom was. I was not prepared to walk into the door. I stayed outside for a long time. Everyone was telling me to come in but I took it really hard. So I went in to say my final good byes to my mother. I think I cried for every step that I took. It was a heart gripping moment. One that I never wanted to feel again. I told my mom that I loved her and I would do everything in my power to make her proud. So now, I strive to be the best that I can be for myself but also because I know that my mom is looking down on me and pushing me every step of the way. Some people want to make it in the business to be rich and famous. I don't. Yea it is nice to have that with it but at the end of the day, I just want to do what my mom always wanted me to do. She is my driving force.
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