It was April 2010 and my life seemed perfect, my husband and I had recently moved into our brand new home in PA, my son had just changed careers, my relationship with my step daughter was looking hopeful, my 5 year old daughter was taking piano lessons and we were all making plans to buy our first puppy.  Yes, life was great!

However, sometimes bad things happen to good people.  Fast forward to June 12, 2010.  It was a Saturday and my husband, daughter and I were excited about the community yard sale that was going on in our new development in PA where The Lord had just moved us to just six months ago.  We were looking forward to finally getting a chance to meet our neighbors and see if there were any little girls in the neighborhood with whom our daughter could possibly form a friendship.  We also had plans to ride into Maryland to look at pianos praying that one day we would be able to purchase one.

Well, after spending a couple of hours meeting our neighbors, we decided that it was time to make our way to Cockeysville, Maryland to look at pianos.  Now, my son Lamont was 25 years old at the time.  I gave birth to him when I was 21 and was a single parent until I married my husband Tony when Lamont was 20.  Lamont had recently joined a semi pro football team and every Saturday they had games.  I never attended any of the games because of the distance and I just wasn’t a football fan and I didn’t want to see my baby getting knocked around.  Well, on the drive into Maryland the thought came to me twice to call Lamont.  Each time I said to myself, “he’s probably getting ready for his game, I will just talk to him tomorrow or I may see him in church.”  As we were pulling into the shopping center where the music store was located, the thought came to me a third time to “call Lamont and have him meet us at the Applebee’s restaurant.”  Once again I said to myself, “he’s probably getting ready for his game, I can talk to him tomorrow.”  We spent about an hour looking at pianos then we left and headed back to PA.

Then, the unthinkable happened!  Later that evening, I got the call that no parent ever wants to receive.  My son Lamont had gotten hurt while playing football in Annapolis, Maryland.  No one could tell me just how bad his injuries were, only that he was being air lifted to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma.  By the time we were in the car and pulling out of the driveway, another call came in saying that he was being transported by ambulance to Anne Arundel Medical Center because it was closer.  That was the longest drive of my life!  By the time we arrived, my son, Lamont, my only son had died.