Dwyane Wade's mom praises NBA legend son for getting her through prison time... and for 'embracing' his transgender daughter, 18
The Miami Heat legend is co-hosting 'Today with Jenna & Friends' this week, and the show sat down with Wade's mother, Jolinda, as she delivered a special pre-recorded message for her son.
'You are and have always been a blessing,' she said, via People. 'A blessing to me and so many others whose lives you have touched.'
'I remember how we became pen pals when I was incarcerated,' she continued. 'Your letters got me through each day and enabled me to be a part of all the wonderful things that was happening in your life.'
In the message, Jolinda - who previously struggled with drug addiction and suicidal thoughts - also praised how Wade cares for his transgender daughter, Zaya.
'My love, I admire how you embrace your beautiful child Zaya - my granddaughter,' Jolinda said. 'And you encourage her to be who she is. What a dad. You protect her, you speak with her to understand who she is. You don't judge or condemn.'
Jolinda, 70, was later brought onto the show in person, and discussed how she struggled with drug addiction and suicidal thoughts as her four children did their best to help her.
'My kids struggled with me,' she said. 'I grappled many years with drug addiction. Heroin, alcohol , pills, well, you know, we can go on down you name it. Alcoholism, homelessness, in and out of prison. Just living a life that was totally separated from my babies. One thing I always wanted to be was a mother and once I stopped being that person, I lost me. And I didn't know how to grab me back at the time.'
'When suicide came up, I would see their faces. I didn't want to do it anymore,' she added. 'One thing about my precious four babies - they never stopped loving me. They never stopped loving me, never judged me, never condemned me.'
After hearing his mother's initial pre-recorded message, the three-time NBA champion gushed about the impact his mother had on him.
'When you're a kid and your parents say nice things to you, it makes you walk out of the house feeling like you can conquer anything,' he said. 'I'm a 43-year-old man and my mom still sends me voice notes and notes like this and I feel like I can conquer anything.'
Jolinda was then welcomed onto set, as the pair shared an emotional hug.
Wade could be seen sweetly holding his mom's hand as she talked about her journey on live television.
He was later joined on the couch by his sister as well.
'The way that my mom and my sister showed up for me, and the way that they have loved me is how I carry love through with everyone that I come across and especially my kids... I how them on a high pedestal for sure, and I love these two women,' he said.
Wade is set to join Amazon Prime Video's NBA coverage next year following his retirement in 2019.
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