There are times in life when everything you thought you knew turned out to be wrong. My family has recently experienced this kind of awakening due to the passing of my only child. My daughter, LaToya, who was only 41, went home to be with the Lord on November 29, 2024. And we are left to pick up and move on.  

 

We always thought she would recover from the cancer diagnosis, and that she and the children would return to their family way. We really thought their time with me was temporary. She had plans, they had plans, I had plans, but we have discovered that God has different plans. And now my 4 grandchildren are being helped and raised by me. And although this task seems daunting when I think about it, I am seeing the mercies of God continue to guide, strengthen, and support us.  

 

God has truly been and continues to be gracious to us. It was by His grace and mercy that they were back home with us. Even though my daughter wanted to live out of town, God directed them right back home to us. She didn't know she had a cervical tumor until doctors discovered it at stage 3. She fought a valiant fight of faith for 2 years, but her body, not her faith, gave out.  

 

For the last eight months of her life she was in the hospital every month, and sometimes for the entire month. During that time, I was raising the children. I had been raising them while she fought her good fight of faith to live. 

 

As I gave her eulogy, I talked about this peace that had come over us three months prior to her passing. As the hospice nurse complimented me on my care of my daughter and grandchildren, I explained the peace of God. I felt it, and with it came this energy that I did not previously have. I also saw the children get calmer, and I wondered if LaToya was experiencing it. And she too told the nurse, "I feel like I am in Zen."

 

I watched as God’s peace lifted her when she cried out in pain, "Jesus, help me!" That was the moment of her transitioning. She never took another pain pill after that day. Even when her alarms and mine went off to remind us. She simply said, "Ma, I don’t need it." Even when I coerced her to take them, she could not keep them down. I just responded, "WOW!!!"

 

My grandchildren and I have peace knowing that she is now at peace and that she is not suffering any longer. We want to thank everyone that has prayed for us, cared for LaToya, and supported our family before and through this tough season.  

 

I would not be honest if I did not admit that I am very concerned about raising three minor children and assisting my adult granddaughter. However, I realize that I won’t have to do it in my strength, because I am completely dependent on God to continue to carry us. He brought us this far by faith, and we are trusting Him to lead us the rest of His way in His will.  

 

The loss of a loved one is not easy, but like my eleven-year-old grandson spoke, at her memorial service, "It’s just life."

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