It Takes a Loss to Bring Family Together

It was a trying time for the Snowden Family when we heard that my Uncle Nick had suffered a stroke during the week of March 10, 2008. Apparently he had suffered the stroke and laid on his apartment's bathroom floor for more than three days. Needless to say, this was the major contributing factor to his inability to return to us.

Although he was in critical condition, Uncle Nick held on, working hard to rehabilitate himself; with the help of a junior nurse, my cousin Ryen Cunningham-Snowden, Nick made a tremendous comeback, but of course this would not be the ultimate comeback for his spirit. And now that I think back, I believe Uncle Nick never recovered from the loss of his best friend and common-law wife Patricia "Trish" Martin, who passed November 22, 2007 while he was away visiting family in Alabama.

My mother Daisy, Uncle Gene, Aunty Deborah, Uncles Woodrow, Thomas and Scott, including my Granddad Thomas spent a many days in Illinois, helping with Uncle Nick. Working together to get his strength back and also help with his rehabilitation. And all this took up the entire month of April.

Sadly, Uncle Nick loss his battle of rehabilitation and passed away on Monday morning, April 28th in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Many will say that since we knew Uncle Nick was very sick, we should have been prepared-but who's ever 'really' prepared? Especially for the loss of a very close relative, friend or loved one. Although saddened by the loss, our family remained strong and prepared for the trip to Alabama; his body was returned to his childhood home for burial, which is Frankville, Alabama.

Our family is not a family that does not stay in touch with one another; I'm proud to say that we have a close-knit family, even though we are stretched between many states, near and far. And this would be the one time that we all were in the same place at the same time. It felt good to be together.

And like the saying goes: "It takes a sad thing to bring family together", we came together to send my Uncle Nick off to his home amongst the clouds. See, usually, when we have huge family gatherings, there's always someone in the family that cannot make it for whatever reason; and then you also have those times when there's always somebody missing out the group due to them having to work. But this was a time, no jobs, other commitments or anything could prevent our family from coming together.

I'll miss the physical interaction of my Uncle Nick, but I know he's amongst us all in spirit. And my words to all of you-is to not let something sad bring your family together for a good time!