Losing Tai…

The Lifeatarian - Losing Tai Episode Summary: In this episode, Monique shares what it was like to lose her daughter, Tai. It was the summer of 1981 when she was raped by the father of the child she was babysitting at the time. It was an experience that turned her happy and innocent teenage life upside down. Neither she nor her family would learn that she was pregnant for another five months following the incident. When Monique and her family did learn that she was having a baby, she was told that she had only 48 hours to decide whether or not to terminate the pregnancy. But even at 14 years old, Monique knew without a shred of doubt in her soul that God would not want her to kill a baby, no matter how the baby was conceived. On April 15, 1982, Monique’s daughter, Tai, was born. Unfortunately, due to the trauma around her labor and delivery, her baby suffered severe brain damage. Tai had cerebral palsy, and would most likely be in a vegetative state for most of her life. Monique now had another difficult choice to make: take newborn Tai home, or have her sent to an institution for professional care. But even at this crossroad, Monique knew right away that Tai’s upbringing was her responsibility; not that of strangers. Monique never imagined how incredible the next 11 years and seven months would turn out to be. Tai turned out to be a charming and precocious young girl, as well as a high achiever in her academic and extracurricular life. And instead of mother teaching child, it was Tai who taught Monique some truly simple yet profound life lessons. She taught her how to anticipate the needs of others. She taught her commitment, drive and determination. Most importantly, Tai taught Monique unconditional love. As filled with joy Tai’s life was, it would eventually, tragically, be cut short after a long series of hospitalizations, each one leaving her weaker following her discharge. On January 25, 1994, Tai took her last breath. Immediately following her daughter’s passing, Monique went hysterical, breaking things around her home and cursing God. Monique was raped. She was forced to choose whether or not to abort her baby within two days after discovering she was pregnant. She was faced with the possibility that Tai would be confined to an institution, away from her mother. But even after all that, the hardest thing that Monique ever had to experience in her life was burying her daughter. It got to the point that she got rid of anything that would remind her of Tai. Monique’s heart was in such a state of grief that she even grew hesitant to love her son Devon, afraid that loving him openly would cause God to take him away too soon as well. Even after 26 years, the pain of losing Tai never left Monique’s heart and soul. She encourages all of us to hold our kids close, and to cherish every second we have with them. They need to be told that they are loved every single day.