Hi, I'm Dr. Kim Logan-Nowlin. And I'm Arthur Nowlin. 00:00:01.06\00:00:04.04 And welcome to "Making It Work." 00:00:04.07\00:00:06.53 Our topic today 00:00:38.29\00:00:40.77 "Death and Dying, Loss Of A Child." 00:00:40.80\00:00:45.34 Arthur, this is a very sensitive topic 00:00:45.37\00:00:48.45 and I want to share some statistics with you 00:00:48.48\00:00:50.39 that I was able to research. 00:00:50.42\00:00:51.91 Okay. 00:00:51.94\00:00:53.91 This is September 2, 2010, 00:00:53.94\00:00:57.01 "Murders of young black men rise. 00:00:57.04\00:01:00.31 Two killed each week; 00:01:00.34\00:01:02.82 Detroit struggles to curb violence." 00:01:02.85\00:01:06.27 And I want to also share 00:01:06.30\00:01:08.06 "For black males in the city between ages 15 and 24, 00:01:08.09\00:01:13.03 the chances of getting murdered 00:01:13.06\00:01:14.47 has rise rapidly in recent years, 00:01:14.50\00:01:18.12 increasing from 79 in 2005 to 102 last year. 00:01:18.15\00:01:24.90 The number reached a high of 115 in 2008." 00:01:24.93\00:01:31.91 What are they saying? Oh, it's amazing. 00:01:31.94\00:01:33.74 It says there's a lot of tragedy. 00:01:33.77\00:01:35.49 Yes. With our youths. 00:01:35.52\00:01:36.55 Yes. 00:01:36.58\00:01:37.61 In most inner cities because even though 00:01:37.64\00:01:39.82 Detroit was mentioned, we're talking about nationwide. 00:01:39.85\00:01:43.81 Nationwide, nationwide and I-- I did a workshop, 00:01:43.84\00:01:48.44 and I had on the workshop a picture of a graveyard, 00:01:48.47\00:01:52.20 and I said, our, 00:01:52.23\00:01:54.17 our young people are not in church, 00:01:54.20\00:01:57.24 the nightclubs, the libraries, schools, 00:01:57.27\00:02:00.25 not even in prison, 00:02:00.28\00:02:01.55 they were in the graveyard, the cemetery. 00:02:01.58\00:02:04.32 Well, that takes us to our guest. 00:02:04.35\00:02:05.94 I want to welcome, Ms. Cheryl Bryant. 00:02:05.97\00:02:08.44 God bless you. Bless you. 00:02:08.47\00:02:11.31 I don't-- 00:02:11.34\00:02:12.50 you know, I was so touched by your story 00:02:12.53\00:02:16.04 and I know our viewers will be also. 00:02:16.07\00:02:18.28 So we want you to take your time 00:02:18.31\00:02:20.40 and tell us your story. 00:02:20.43\00:02:23.91 Well, I was at work when I found out late 00:02:23.94\00:02:28.21 in the evening my son was in an accident of shooting. 00:02:28.24\00:02:34.51 Okay. 00:02:34.54\00:02:35.75 I didn't know that at the time but I was hysterical at work. 00:02:35.78\00:02:42.18 Once I got a halfway together 00:02:42.21\00:02:44.06 a relative of mine took me to the site where he was 00:02:44.09\00:02:49.38 and they whisked me away. 00:02:49.41\00:02:50.53 They told me, no-- no information. 00:02:50.56\00:02:54.28 They were still checking everything out. 00:02:54.31\00:02:56.46 So at that point I didn't know for sure it was him. 00:02:56.49\00:02:59.86 So I went in to everything is okay now and he was fine. 00:02:59.89\00:03:07.55 There was an error made and I went home. 00:03:07.58\00:03:11.31 And when I got home they said that, 00:03:11.34\00:03:13.40 I needed to go to the police station 00:03:13.43\00:03:16.16 to talk with some people. 00:03:16.19\00:03:19.54 And long story short when I got back home 00:03:19.57\00:03:23.06 the police and the detectives came to my residence 00:03:23.09\00:03:27.17 to let me know that it was indeed my son. 00:03:27.20\00:03:31.14 What was your son's name? 00:03:31.17\00:03:32.91 His name is Brandon. 00:03:32.94\00:03:34.32 And how old was Brandon? 00:03:34.35\00:03:35.69 Brandon was 23. 00:03:35.72\00:03:37.51 Twenty-three-years old. Twenty-three-years old. 00:03:37.54\00:03:39.34 And Brandon he was a good son. 00:03:39.37\00:03:41.29 Yeah. Tell us about Brandon. 00:03:41.32\00:03:43.00 He was a lot of fun, he was friendly, silly, 00:03:43.03\00:03:47.45 always called him a social butterfly. 00:03:47.48\00:03:49.37 Okay. 00:03:49.40\00:03:50.78 When he was in school, 00:03:50.81\00:03:52.70 I didn't have any big problems just he was a talker. 00:03:52.73\00:03:56.21 Okay. 00:03:56.24\00:03:57.28 And he was really just a fine friendly person. 00:03:57.31\00:04:00.96 Was he into sports? 00:04:00.99\00:04:02.20 Yes, he was into sports. He was a basketball player. 00:04:02.23\00:04:06.07 He grew to be the 6 foot 9. 00:04:06.10\00:04:08.26 Six, nine. Six foot nine. 00:04:08.29\00:04:10.52 He is really tall and he had 00:04:10.55\00:04:12.22 the will for the basketball player. 00:04:12.25\00:04:15.88 You also informed me that he had an opportunity 00:04:15.91\00:04:19.03 to play professional basketball overseas? 00:04:19.06\00:04:22.40 Yeah, CDA. 00:04:22.43\00:04:24.68 They had contacted him to go to Lithuania, 00:04:24.71\00:04:29.16 it what's there was someplace that I have never 00:04:29.19\00:04:32.89 even knew anything about tough, yeah. 00:04:32.92\00:04:37.29 Well, tell me about, it was a accidental shooting, 00:04:37.32\00:04:40.78 can you tell us what happened? 00:04:40.81\00:04:45.11 That's told to me by the detectives, 00:04:45.14\00:04:47.73 what happened was my son and a friend of his 00:04:47.76\00:04:51.65 were waiting for a ride and the ride 00:04:51.68\00:04:54.86 that they were waiting on was at the front 00:04:54.89\00:04:58.35 of the development that they were at and they were 00:04:58.38\00:05:02.75 in the mid section of it. 00:05:02.78\00:05:05.12 Okay. 00:05:05.15\00:05:06.57 And while they were waiting on a ride 00:05:06.60\00:05:11.20 the ride was calling back to them to find out exactly 00:05:11.23\00:05:14.86 where to pick them up at. 00:05:14.89\00:05:16.22 Okay. 00:05:16.25\00:05:17.32 Meanwhile another car that was identical to the car 00:05:17.35\00:05:20.31 that they were actually waiting for came up 00:05:20.34\00:05:23.20 and they approached it to get in, 00:05:23.23\00:05:26.02 to get in for the ride. 00:05:26.05\00:05:27.71 My son went to the back driver side door 00:05:27.74\00:05:31.43 and his friend I guess they were like walking up 00:05:31.46\00:05:34.21 from after the side and the person as far as I know 00:05:34.24\00:05:39.05 jumped out shooting and thinking that is something. 00:05:39.08\00:05:42.54 So he didn't really-- 00:05:42.57\00:05:45.08 he must have felt some type of fear at that point, 00:05:45.11\00:05:48.04 not-- not your son 00:05:48.07\00:05:49.10 I'm talking about the gentleman that was in the car. 00:05:49.13\00:05:51.43 I'm assuming, yes. Okay. 00:05:51.46\00:05:53.36 Were there other passengers in this car? 00:05:53.39\00:05:55.17 Yes, there were two small children in the back, 00:05:55.20\00:05:59.16 like an infant and maybe a one or two year old. 00:05:59.19\00:06:02.69 Okay. 00:06:02.72\00:06:03.78 And another person in the front. 00:06:03.81\00:06:05.96 My son went to the back driver side door to get in. 00:06:05.99\00:06:11.53 Okay. But I guess 00:06:11.56\00:06:13.00 So he's reaching to get in and the gentleman or father 00:06:13.03\00:06:16.30 who is driving this car thinks that 00:06:16.33\00:06:18.71 someone is trying to carjack him 00:06:18.74\00:06:20.32 or take his children. 00:06:20.35\00:06:21.39 Right. So he gets out. 00:06:21.42\00:06:22.94 Yes. And he gets out shooting. 00:06:22.97\00:06:25.03 Right. 00:06:25.06\00:06:26.09 And he kills your son accidentally. 00:06:26.12\00:06:29.32 So he was, he was there at the scene? 00:06:29.35\00:06:32.57 I think so. 00:06:32.60\00:06:33.82 They wouldn't tell me anything but what I saw was 00:06:33.85\00:06:36.17 a sheet with someone under and that was told to be my son. 00:06:36.20\00:06:41.07 And when you first saw you son under the sheet 00:06:41.10\00:06:43.30 you didn't know at that time that was him. 00:06:43.33\00:06:45.29 No, I didn't I-- 00:06:45.32\00:06:47.06 I put myself in the mind set of it couldn't be him. 00:06:47.09\00:06:50.29 Okay. 00:06:50.32\00:06:51.35 Because my son was really tall and what I could see was-- 00:06:51.38\00:06:55.77 I guess the person crumple up in my mind, 00:06:55.80\00:06:59.22 and they couldn't have been him because he wasn't tall enough. 00:06:59.25\00:07:01.86 Now-- now so you went to the site 00:07:01.89\00:07:05.59 where he had fallen? 00:07:05.62\00:07:07.79 Yes. So okay. 00:07:07.82\00:07:09.36 But they never let you see his face. 00:07:09.39\00:07:11.09 No, they wouldn't let me even go near the-- 00:07:11.12\00:07:13.96 they said it was crime scene, it was being investigated 00:07:13.99\00:07:17.97 and they sent me back, they sent me away. 00:07:18.00\00:07:21.48 So when they called you at what point did you have 00:07:21.51\00:07:23.73 to go down to identify him at the morgue? 00:07:23.76\00:07:26.80 The next morning. 00:07:26.83\00:07:28.18 Okay. 00:07:28.21\00:07:29.31 That must been something extremely difficult for you. 00:07:29.34\00:07:32.56 Very, very so real. 00:07:32.59\00:07:35.79 And now you have a young man who was not selling drugs, 00:07:35.82\00:07:39.27 going to school, going to work, 00:07:39.30\00:07:41.58 doing what he is supposed to do 00:07:41.61\00:07:43.40 and he's a part of the statistics. 00:07:43.43\00:07:45.51 And has a tremendous opportunity for future 00:07:45.54\00:07:48.64 because he was being considered 00:07:48.67\00:07:51.72 to play professional basketball in another country. 00:07:51.75\00:07:54.58 Still. Yes, and still. 00:07:54.61\00:07:56.93 So take us through what happened 00:07:56.96\00:07:59.00 when you went down to the morgue. 00:07:59.03\00:08:01.48 I went down to the morgue, they had me sign in 00:08:01.51\00:08:04.30 and they take you into a room and there is a TV screen 00:08:04.33\00:08:10.18 and the person who you coming to identify shows up 00:08:10.21\00:08:13.54 on the screen and it was my son 00:08:13.57\00:08:17.98 and he looked like he was sleeping. 00:08:18.01\00:08:20.10 Death sleeping. 00:08:20.13\00:08:21.54 What was your first reaction? 00:08:21.57\00:08:22.77 What was going through your mind? 00:08:22.80\00:08:24.25 What happened? 00:08:24.28\00:08:25.74 I barely remember I fell to the floor. 00:08:25.77\00:08:27.91 You fell to the floor. I just I fell to the floor. 00:08:27.94\00:08:30.74 And crying and I kept looking though 00:08:30.77\00:08:33.95 I kept looking at the screen because I don't know, 00:08:33.98\00:08:37.27 I guess I went into a mode of it's a mistake. 00:08:37.30\00:08:41.77 And maybe he'll move, 00:08:41.80\00:08:43.92 and he'll be-- it'll be a mistake. 00:08:43.95\00:08:46.02 So you were waiting for him to move, 00:08:46.05\00:08:48.89 you to confirm that it was a mistake. 00:08:48.92\00:08:51.92 So eventually the people somebody must have 00:08:51.95\00:08:54.59 brought you to the morgue. 00:08:54.62\00:08:56.20 Right. 00:08:56.23\00:08:57.29 Okay, so eventually it-- the decision was made 00:08:57.32\00:09:00.00 to take you back home. 00:09:00.03\00:09:02.29 You know, how did you feel when you got home? 00:09:02.32\00:09:06.22 Numb, I was numb 00:09:06.25\00:09:09.48 and confused just is that-- 00:09:09.51\00:09:16.69 I guess is some type of defense mechanism. 00:09:16.72\00:09:20.89 Angry? 00:09:20.92\00:09:23.50 I wasn't really angry, 00:09:23.53\00:09:25.84 it's like a-- is something 00:09:25.87\00:09:29.05 I can't really be explained as more confusion, denial. 00:09:29.08\00:09:35.50 Denial, that my son is not gone. 00:09:35.53\00:09:38.16 And then you told me earlier that you have spoken 00:09:38.19\00:09:40.80 to your son earlier that day, 00:09:40.83\00:09:43.09 and tell me about that conversation. 00:09:43.12\00:09:45.16 I talked to him because he and his girlfriend 00:09:45.19\00:09:48.08 were going to work and I have a grandbaby 00:09:48.11\00:09:50.88 and they wanted to thank me because I had done 00:09:50.91\00:09:55.67 a few things for them. 00:09:55.70\00:09:57.25 He wanted to thank me and he called to say thank you 00:09:57.28\00:10:01.26 and everything was fine and I will talk to him later. 00:10:01.29\00:10:05.78 Let me ask you now, what about revenge? 00:10:05.81\00:10:11.12 Did you have that feeling? 00:10:11.15\00:10:13.84 For just a little second when I didn't know 00:10:13.87\00:10:17.95 100 percent what happened. 00:10:17.98\00:10:19.69 Its-- it's your baby and you want to get 00:10:23.55\00:10:29.43 at whatever it was that hurt your baby. 00:10:29.46\00:10:32.00 Yes, yes. 00:10:32.03\00:10:33.25 Now you found out later 00:10:33.28\00:10:37.56 the actual circumstances that was involved. 00:10:37.59\00:10:41.89 How did you handle that 00:10:41.92\00:10:43.13 and can you explain how did that come about that 00:10:43.16\00:10:46.03 you found out about those actual circumstances? 00:10:46.06\00:10:50.08 I went to-- after going to the detectives 00:10:50.11\00:10:54.66 I had to wait and I had to wait 00:10:54.69\00:10:56.80 for like a couple of few months it's all-- 00:10:56.83\00:11:00.13 its still a blur, it's all a blur. 00:11:00.16\00:11:01.77 Yes, yes, yes. 00:11:01.80\00:11:03.05 But at the point where I actually went down 00:11:03.08\00:11:05.31 to the Wayne County prosecutor's office 00:11:05.34\00:11:08.16 and they discussed 00:11:08.19\00:11:10.09 what they have found during the investigation. 00:11:10.12\00:11:14.72 That's when I found out what really happened. 00:11:14.75\00:11:18.18 And it's devastating, 00:11:18.21\00:11:23.80 and as a part of you don't want to believe, 00:11:23.83\00:11:27.87 no, they can't be right, 00:11:27.90\00:11:30.17 but then this another part 00:11:30.20\00:11:31.40 you have to rely on the professionals, 00:11:31.43\00:11:34.89 the officials because you not you-- 00:11:34.92\00:11:36.90 you weren't there and I was hurt, just-- and heartbroken. 00:11:36.93\00:11:44.33 The man was carrying a concealed-- 00:11:44.36\00:11:46.20 what the registered weapon, and-- 00:11:46.23\00:11:48.69 He was licensed. 00:11:48.72\00:11:49.84 He was licensed, protecting his family, 00:11:49.87\00:11:52.94 and it was an accident. 00:11:52.97\00:11:54.00 Right. 00:11:54.03\00:11:55.06 Have you and this gentleman spoken face to face? 00:11:55.09\00:11:58.18 No, there's still the unknown part 00:11:58.21\00:12:01.37 that I wish I could address, 00:12:01.40\00:12:03.24 but I'm scared to address it and-- 00:12:03.27\00:12:07.57 Has anyone suggested that to you like the police officer 00:12:07.60\00:12:12.33 or has she tried to contact you or anything like that? 00:12:12.36\00:12:15.27 No. Okay. 00:12:15.30\00:12:16.55 Because it was an accident. 00:12:16.58\00:12:18.10 So is the case closed, 00:12:18.13\00:12:19.27 did they sent you a letter saying the case is now closed? 00:12:19.30\00:12:22.13 Honestly I don't know. 00:12:22.16\00:12:23.89 I assume that it is because I was able to-- 00:12:23.92\00:12:27.38 you know, put him in his resting place, 00:12:27.41\00:12:29.56 but I don't know for sure. 00:12:29.59\00:12:31.37 I'm-- I'm pretty sure it is 00:12:31.40\00:12:33.68 but I still have yet to have a police report. 00:12:33.71\00:12:38.02 And I'm-- I'm kind a scared to get it 00:12:38.05\00:12:40.38 because I don't know-- 00:12:40.41\00:12:42.33 I know what they told me, but I haven't actually read-- 00:12:42.36\00:12:46.52 The police report. Right. 00:12:46.55\00:12:48.74 Now you also have another son. 00:12:48.77\00:12:51.72 Yes. Yes. 00:12:51.75\00:12:52.82 You know, so how has that impacted 00:12:52.85\00:12:55.90 the relationship that you have with him? 00:12:55.93\00:12:59.26 We're always close. 00:12:59.29\00:13:04.41 This made us closer. 00:13:04.44\00:13:07.66 This made me question different things like, 00:13:07.69\00:13:10.59 I've always been a single mother 00:13:10.62\00:13:12.75 and as a single parent you question that the, 00:13:12.78\00:13:15.75 the things that you do with the kids, 00:13:15.78\00:13:18.36 and whether you made the right decisions on down the line. 00:13:18.39\00:13:21.73 But he's okay, he's, 00:13:21.76\00:13:23.75 he's handling things pretty well. 00:13:23.78\00:13:25.45 It's just moving along. He misses his brother also. 00:13:28.58\00:13:31.35 He definitely misses him. 00:13:31.38\00:13:33.74 How are-- how has your days and nights 00:13:33.77\00:13:36.55 I know you're back to work, does that help? 00:13:36.58\00:13:39.93 Yeah, that helps a lot and I didn't in-- 00:13:39.96\00:13:43.45 you kind of know because you try to surround yourself 00:13:43.48\00:13:45.66 with the people who are most like you 00:13:45.69\00:13:49.42 and but I have a extended family the people 00:13:49.45\00:13:55.33 I work with them. 00:13:55.36\00:13:56.83 Cheryl, you have a church family also. 00:13:56.86\00:13:58.69 I have a church family, definitely. 00:13:58.72\00:14:01.25 I mean, everybody really rallied around me and my family 00:14:01.28\00:14:06.05 and had a most respect and support for all of us. 00:14:06.08\00:14:11.87 Now your mother shortly after Brandon's death 00:14:11.90\00:14:16.64 your mother passed away, how many weeks later? 00:14:16.67\00:14:19.08 Two weeks and two days. 00:14:19.11\00:14:20.69 Two weeks and two days you lost your mother. 00:14:20.72\00:14:23.87 And I remember you sharing with me that your mother 00:14:23.90\00:14:26.17 has called and said come get me she was in nursing home. 00:14:26.20\00:14:29.66 And she had opportunity to see Brandon 00:14:29.69\00:14:32.28 before he passed. 00:14:32.31\00:14:34.42 So believing that God was working things in motion, 00:14:34.45\00:14:38.57 now how have you been able to deal with-- 00:14:38.60\00:14:42.93 I know people go on, 00:14:42.96\00:14:44.45 you have to fight your way through this, 00:14:44.48\00:14:46.25 but being able to look at your life today 00:14:46.28\00:14:48.23 and say I've lost my son and I've lost my mother. 00:14:48.26\00:14:52.23 What is going through your mind? 00:14:52.26\00:14:55.11 I have had so many different thoughts, 00:14:55.14\00:14:58.21 I've had heart filled, I have had-- 00:14:58.24\00:15:03.17 it was a test on my faith, 00:15:03.20\00:15:06.04 but in my mind I know I passed it 00:15:06.07\00:15:09.43 'cause I know God is-- I know He is real. 00:15:09.46\00:15:12.14 There's no way in the world that I could get through 00:15:12.17\00:15:14.24 something like this without Him. 00:15:14.27\00:15:16.93 It is just no way. I had to be really strong. 00:15:16.96\00:15:20.68 The night I found out my son got killed because my mother 00:15:20.71\00:15:24.86 her health was not that good, her heart and, 00:15:24.89\00:15:29.00 and she actually pass from a heart attack in her sleep. 00:15:29.03\00:15:33.60 And but at that point it's like I had to hold myself together 00:15:33.63\00:15:38.84 because I didn't have anyone at home with me at that point. 00:15:38.87\00:15:41.75 At that point. So 00:15:41.78\00:15:43.45 Let me ask you, what is your family like 00:15:43.48\00:15:48.44 when you were growing up? 00:15:48.47\00:15:51.21 Very loving, very God fearing, healthy, 00:15:51.24\00:15:58.38 we had fun, we had a lot of fun. 00:15:58.41\00:16:00.38 They were-- 00:16:00.41\00:16:01.98 I came from a family of nurturers, 00:16:02.01\00:16:04.34 true nurturers and aunts, 00:16:04.37\00:16:07.14 uncles, my mother's only child, 00:16:07.17\00:16:10.00 but all of my family have a big family, 00:16:10.03\00:16:13.33 and caring, loving. 00:16:13.36\00:16:15.88 Caring. 00:16:15.91\00:16:16.95 Do you still receive that now? 00:16:16.98\00:16:19.79 More so now than ever. 00:16:19.82\00:16:21.25 Okay, has your family been pressuring you 00:16:21.28\00:16:24.05 to find out what's in their police report 00:16:24.08\00:16:26.59 or have they really kind of just 00:16:26.62\00:16:27.87 backed away from that aspect? 00:16:27.90\00:16:30.66 Here and there is a little bit of both, 00:16:30.69\00:16:33.26 it's a little of both. 00:16:33.29\00:16:35.03 Let me-- let me ask you-- you told me, 00:16:35.06\00:16:37.10 you shared with me, 00:16:37.13\00:16:38.33 how the day you mother passed away, 00:16:38.36\00:16:40.76 she wanted to go to church. 00:16:40.79\00:16:42.53 Tell us about that. 00:16:42.56\00:16:44.02 We went to church and she had a beautiful day 00:16:44.05\00:16:46.80 it was 80 degrees out, it was really pretty, 00:16:46.83\00:16:51.53 and she said, I want to go to church, 00:16:51.56\00:16:53.45 and so I got her together, I helped her, 00:16:53.48\00:16:57.07 kept her bath, and dressed, 00:16:57.10\00:16:59.87 and we went, she was in a wheelchair, 00:16:59.90\00:17:02.53 and at church she wanted to stand up, 00:17:02.56\00:17:04.87 she wanted to get up and she wanted to-- 00:17:04.90\00:17:07.47 she wanted to praise, 00:17:07.50\00:17:09.06 she wanted-- she just was a powerful, 00:17:09.09\00:17:13.22 just a power pack that day. 00:17:13.25\00:17:16.02 And that's what she did. 00:17:16.05\00:17:18.48 We went and she sang and she had a good time. 00:17:18.51\00:17:21.56 She really enjoyed it. 00:17:21.59\00:17:23.11 So you both came home, went to dinner and came home, 00:17:23.14\00:17:26.44 and she took a nap, and she passed away? 00:17:26.47\00:17:29.91 That day. My, my, my. 00:17:29.94\00:17:31.82 That's powerful, liking this, you know. 00:17:31.85\00:17:35.32 You know, Cheryl, I look at you and you know, 00:17:35.35\00:17:37.24 you look like pillar strength 00:17:37.27\00:17:39.75 but are there still some dark days and tearful nights? 00:17:39.78\00:17:44.75 I think, over time I guess it'll get better. 00:17:44.78\00:17:48.66 I'm know it'll get better, it will get better 00:17:48.69\00:17:50.45 but was something like this losing someone 00:17:50.48\00:17:54.66 so close to you and you know, 00:17:54.69\00:17:58.12 my son and my mother just I go back and forth, 00:17:58.15\00:18:00.66 my baby, my mom, I go back and forth but like I say, 00:18:00.69\00:18:07.08 my faith is strong and I know who to count on 00:18:07.11\00:18:12.32 and I know that-- that He is real. 00:18:12.35\00:18:15.60 Every time I have anyone of those 00:18:15.63\00:18:17.84 down times and they're frequent. 00:18:17.87\00:18:19.79 Yeah. 00:18:19.82\00:18:20.85 They're very frequent, but that's what pulls me out 00:18:20.88\00:18:24.21 'cause I know I don't walk along. 00:18:24.24\00:18:26.89 And I know I have a lot of support. 00:18:26.92\00:18:29.40 Some of the tools we recommend in our counseling 00:18:29.43\00:18:31.81 clinical of course is being 00:18:31.84\00:18:34.02 able to have someone to talk to, 00:18:34.05\00:18:36.01 being able to seek counseling, 00:18:36.04\00:18:38.63 being able to use tools 00:18:38.66\00:18:39.91 such as keeping yourself active, 00:18:39.94\00:18:42.20 being able to release the pain 00:18:42.23\00:18:45.01 because that's like a heavy load 00:18:45.04\00:18:46.28 to have to carry by yourself 00:18:46.31\00:18:48.62 and you need to understand viewers, 00:18:48.65\00:18:50.10 you're not alone. 00:18:50.13\00:18:51.49 You know, when you lose a loved one, 00:18:51.52\00:18:53.40 no one knows what that feels or means to you 00:18:53.43\00:18:56.61 because you're going through it, 00:18:56.64\00:18:58.46 and we always see I know how you feel, 00:18:58.49\00:19:00.01 I know what you're going through 00:19:00.04\00:19:02.23 unless you walked in my shoes, 00:19:02.26\00:19:04.36 but we're all experience death 00:19:04.39\00:19:07.17 and we are experiencing a loss, you know, the grief. 00:19:07.20\00:19:11.74 I think another important step that I didn't hear you say, 00:19:11.77\00:19:14.23 I think needs to be said, 00:19:14.26\00:19:16.37 is accepting what transpired you, 00:19:16.40\00:19:21.36 you have to accept a whole situation 00:19:21.39\00:19:24.68 and that's important for us to move forward 00:19:24.71\00:19:28.55 and to overcome some of the difficulties 00:19:28.58\00:19:30.30 that we do experience. 00:19:30.33\00:19:32.00 That's the hardest part. 00:19:32.03\00:19:33.08 Yeah, I know. 00:19:33.11\00:19:34.88 Because you don't know-- 00:19:34.91\00:19:36.90 you don't know when its gonna happen 00:19:36.93\00:19:38.21 and I use to tell my son, I told Dr. Kim, 00:19:38.24\00:19:41.64 I used to tell him as he was 00:19:41.67\00:19:44.32 going up different things when-- 00:19:44.35\00:19:45.73 when there was time that death is a part of life, 00:19:45.76\00:19:50.56 and as soon as you were born you will-- 00:19:50.59\00:19:53.58 death-- death will come. 00:19:53.61\00:19:55.60 It's just I didn't set myself up at all to-- 00:19:55.63\00:19:59.50 to know or to acknowledge even when this surround you 00:19:59.53\00:20:03.41 and you see it happening to other people-- 00:20:03.44\00:20:08.23 people younger than my son and the-- 00:20:08.26\00:20:11.13 and the people who've lost their babies and-- 00:20:11.16\00:20:13.42 and all that, I still never, 00:20:13.45\00:20:16.11 never not one time prepare myself-- 00:20:16.14\00:20:19.63 you can't prepare yourself for some. 00:20:19.66\00:20:20.73 No. You cannot. 00:20:20.76\00:20:21.80 It's not preparation, that thing accepting is-- 00:20:21.83\00:20:25.75 is something that you have to really search down deep to do 00:20:25.78\00:20:29.89 because that's one of the first steps in trying 00:20:29.92\00:20:33.14 to deal with the grief process. 00:20:33.17\00:20:37.17 Another thing I know you indicated that right now, 00:20:37.20\00:20:42.16 your-- your relationship with your son, 00:20:42.19\00:20:44.58 your-- your next son, 00:20:44.61\00:20:45.66 is he the oldest or the youngest? 00:20:45.69\00:20:46.72 He is the oldest. 00:20:46.75\00:20:47.78 The oldest son is good and protective I would assume. 00:20:47.81\00:20:52.28 What about the grandson that your son left behind 00:20:52.31\00:20:55.67 how's that relationship? 00:20:55.70\00:20:57.60 Very good, that's my little pumpkin. 00:20:57.63\00:21:00.77 He-- he's a busy body and he's just-- 00:21:00.80\00:21:05.11 just another Brandon, his name is Brandon Jr. 00:21:05.14\00:21:09.96 But he's just like him, he's got mannerisms like him, 00:21:09.99\00:21:13.77 things that you can't pick up, he just turned two. 00:21:13.80\00:21:17.38 He just turned two. 00:21:17.41\00:21:18.66 So there is certain things that that he can do 00:21:18.69\00:21:21.03 or he'll do that are just like his dad and his-- 00:21:21.06\00:21:25.24 he's just something to see. 00:21:25.27\00:21:26.76 You've saved clothes and other items for him 00:21:26.79\00:21:29.10 as he gets older for you to share 00:21:29.13\00:21:31.19 with him about his father, that's really beautiful. 00:21:31.22\00:21:34.07 Cloths and pictures I try to make sure that get like 00:21:34.10\00:21:37.61 a few people who have pictures just to make sure 00:21:37.64\00:21:40.33 he can see that that his dad 00:21:40.36\00:21:42.14 really loved him and so he can see. 00:21:42.17\00:21:44.62 One another things I'd like to ask, 00:21:44.65\00:21:46.99 what are you doing for yourself now? 00:21:47.02\00:21:48.77 Okay, you're involved with this process and you know, 00:21:48.80\00:21:52.29 now you'd lost your son over the summer 00:21:52.32\00:21:54.97 when was it, it was early something. 00:21:55.00\00:21:56.65 Early it was March, so-- 00:21:56.68\00:21:58.60 Okay, so it was like in spring. 00:21:58.63\00:22:00.85 And it's not something easy to overcome, 00:22:00.88\00:22:05.62 but what is important is you have to 00:22:05.65\00:22:08.45 find a way to bounce back. 00:22:08.48\00:22:11.36 What are you doing for you? 00:22:11.39\00:22:13.40 A lot of different things. 00:22:13.43\00:22:14.73 I have quite work helps, 00:22:14.76\00:22:19.90 I love to shop. 00:22:19.93\00:22:22.98 Okay, we could have to cut that part out. 00:22:23.01\00:22:27.94 I'm trying to be around my family and my friends a lot. 00:22:27.97\00:22:31.12 I talk to them often. 00:22:31.15\00:22:34.29 Just I'm trying to tap back into the things 00:22:34.32\00:22:35.89 that I used to enjoy doing. 00:22:35.92\00:22:37.79 Good. 00:22:37.82\00:22:39.33 This shopping is good, I mean, 00:22:39.36\00:22:40.73 specially being in the mall so-- 00:22:40.76\00:22:42.40 Social. Yeah. 00:22:42.43\00:22:44.43 It would be relaxing. It is relaxing. 00:22:44.46\00:22:46.59 I think it is very relaxing, very relaxing. 00:22:46.62\00:22:50.31 Sometimes too relaxing for you? 00:22:50.34\00:22:52.04 No. But very relaxing, you know. 00:22:52.07\00:22:55.85 Let me ask you as holidays our people tell me 00:22:55.88\00:22:59.40 holidays are the most difficult time. 00:22:59.43\00:23:01.94 Tell me why? 00:23:01.97\00:23:04.24 Because you miss them, 00:23:04.27\00:23:05.95 you miss what they bring to your life, 00:23:05.98\00:23:10.67 you just miss I'm-- 00:23:10.70\00:23:11.82 I'm looking forward to the holidays 00:23:11.85\00:23:14.01 but I see myself like kind of, I feel kind of-- 00:23:14.04\00:23:19.44 I don't know like not shaky but I just, 00:23:23.11\00:23:27.11 it's a hard way to put it but-- 00:23:27.14\00:23:29.81 You are going to participate with the family members, 00:23:29.84\00:23:31.74 you will go and be a part? 00:23:31.77\00:23:33.82 I feel anxious. Okay, that's the word. 00:23:33.85\00:23:36.12 Do they all come together and like-- okay, 00:23:36.15\00:23:39.06 so you'd like you had to cook a special plate. 00:23:39.09\00:23:42.22 What's your special plate? 00:23:42.25\00:23:44.80 I have a few back. 00:23:44.83\00:23:46.34 Like you see because I have nice dishes. 00:23:46.37\00:23:48.66 I'm not a cook here. Yeah, okay. 00:23:48.69\00:23:50.26 I love dressing. Okay. 00:23:50.29\00:23:52.90 My aunt and my cousin, they-- they're the cooks, 00:23:52.93\00:23:55.30 they taught me how to cook, so-- 00:23:55.33\00:23:56.86 Okay. And they do good. 00:23:56.89\00:23:57.92 I know how to fix all of his holiday. 00:23:57.95\00:24:01.35 So this gonna be a wonderful gathering. 00:24:01.38\00:24:04.10 This will be the first holiday without your son? 00:24:04.13\00:24:07.35 Right. 00:24:07.38\00:24:08.44 Yes, so it's gonna be a little different. 00:24:08.47\00:24:09.50 And your mother. And your mom, okay. 00:24:09.53\00:24:13.58 You have come up with this great idea, 00:24:13.61\00:24:16.52 tell our viewers about this idea, 00:24:16.55\00:24:17.87 just a little bit because we still 00:24:17.90\00:24:19.31 got to work on this pet, you know. 00:24:19.34\00:24:21.97 Yeah, I have-- it's a product that would help 00:24:22.00\00:24:29.68 when you're out in public or, 00:24:29.71\00:24:32.38 or just if you're at the beach or wherever you are 00:24:32.41\00:24:36.65 something that will help you keep things clean 00:24:36.68\00:24:39.89 as when you use in public restaurants 00:24:39.92\00:24:42.41 and that type of things. 00:24:42.44\00:24:44.12 Sometimes you may not have all the necessities there. 00:24:44.15\00:24:47.83 And I have a little package that would be 00:24:47.86\00:24:51.10 ideal for women and men to-- to you know, 00:24:51.13\00:24:55.28 be-- be keep it clean and keep everything-- 00:24:55.31\00:24:58.79 To take to those strange bathrooms 00:24:58.82\00:25:00.47 you get your own stuff. 00:25:00.50\00:25:02.34 Oh, that's nice. 00:25:02.37\00:25:03.42 Well, I'm going to be looking forward 00:25:03.45\00:25:04.55 you coming back to show us the finished products of this 00:25:04.58\00:25:07.75 because I think it's gonna be a part of your healing. 00:25:07.78\00:25:11.13 You know, the healing is so important 00:25:11.16\00:25:14.27 and also being able-- well, the people at work, 00:25:14.30\00:25:17.61 were they supportive to you? 00:25:17.64\00:25:18.82 They are. 00:25:18.85\00:25:19.90 They-- they were, they came out to the services 00:25:19.93\00:25:22.11 and so she is been back to work. 00:25:22.14\00:25:24.26 Caring still. 00:25:24.29\00:25:25.77 You also say, you write, you know, 00:25:25.80\00:25:28.91 that like a journal or a poems or short stories. 00:25:28.94\00:25:32.73 Right now, I'm on a book. 00:25:32.76\00:25:34.40 I'm-- I have so many different experiences, 00:25:34.43\00:25:39.22 this one is a big one and just a lot of other 00:25:39.25\00:25:42.63 like different experiences that I've had. 00:25:42.66\00:25:45.60 And here and there that's what I do, 00:25:45.63\00:25:47.25 I write, I write poetry, 00:25:47.28\00:25:49.24 that's something else that keeps me. 00:25:49.27\00:25:51.05 I've always done it but it is really something more-- 00:25:51.08\00:25:54.82 more on a serious level. 00:25:54.85\00:25:56.53 Because it is something I have to say. 00:25:56.56\00:25:59.19 Well, you have to write a poem for our show, 00:25:59.22\00:26:01.65 you know, so we can read it 00:26:01.68\00:26:03.52 and have you come back and read it. 00:26:03.55\00:26:05.42 It's one of the things about our program is that we have-- 00:26:05.45\00:26:08.69 it's about healing and helping 00:26:08.72\00:26:11.05 and so that's what it's all about. 00:26:11.08\00:26:14.33 We will be right back to share 00:26:14.36\00:26:16.66 little more information on "Making It Work." 00:26:16.69\00:26:18.94 Cheryl, I want to ask you a question, 00:26:29.40\00:26:32.22 your grandson's mother 00:26:32.25\00:26:35.00 the last thing she did with your son 00:26:35.03\00:26:37.99 they had argument and how is she doing? 00:26:38.02\00:26:41.05 How she coping? 00:26:41.08\00:26:42.81 She's coping pretty well all things considered. 00:26:42.84\00:26:46.83 She had a hard time with that, but I did let her know that, 00:26:46.86\00:26:50.20 that's not the only thing, 00:26:50.23\00:26:52.10 you all didn't expect it to happen 00:26:52.13\00:26:54.62 and you loved each other, 00:26:54.65\00:26:57.10 you had a beautiful son and it will be just fine in time. 00:26:57.13\00:27:02.39 So you've been doing grief counseling with her? 00:27:02.42\00:27:05.10 Yeah, little bit. Yeah, little bit. 00:27:05.13\00:27:06.40 What I get is take your time. 00:27:06.43\00:27:08.41 Oh, listen that's great. 00:27:08.44\00:27:10.89 Cheryl, I want to thank you for being 00:27:10.92\00:27:12.59 a part of "Making It Work," 00:27:12.62\00:27:14.14 and we're gonna be praying for you 00:27:14.17\00:27:16.65 and we're looking forward you to coming back. 00:27:16.68\00:27:18.44 Yeah, it's definitely. Thank you for having me. 00:27:18.47\00:27:20.56 In all the things that you have gone through, 00:27:20.59\00:27:23.26 if you had to say something to a mother, 00:27:23.29\00:27:25.66 a parent going through this right now, 00:27:25.69\00:27:27.07 what would you say? 00:27:27.10\00:27:28.86 The first thing I will say is you're-- 00:27:28.89\00:27:31.57 you're definitely not alone, 00:27:31.60\00:27:35.68 God is always-- He is-- 00:27:35.71\00:27:38.16 He is always present, 00:27:38.19\00:27:40.85 take it all to Him and He will take care of you. 00:27:40.88\00:27:44.72 You know, right. 00:27:44.75\00:27:45.83 That's the truth. That's powerful. 00:27:45.86\00:27:47.09 And that is the true. 00:27:47.12\00:27:48.79 Well, we want to thank our viewers 00:27:48.82\00:27:50.49 and we look forward to seeing you again Ms. Bryant. 00:27:50.52\00:27:53.45 You're beautiful. You look great. 00:27:53.48\00:27:55.63 Thank God for the years you had with Brandon and your mom. 00:27:55.66\00:27:57.87 Yes. 00:27:57.90\00:27:58.97 And I know there are beautiful people. 00:27:59.00\00:28:00.89 To all of you hope is around the corner. 00:28:00.92\00:28:04.30 Hope is always available through prayer and your faith. 00:28:04.33\00:28:08.61 I'm Dr. Kim Logan-Nowlin. 00:28:08.64\00:28:10.15 I'm Arthur Nowlin. 00:28:10.18\00:28:11.36 Let's keep "Making It Work." 00:28:11.39\00:28:12.89