TOWNS GRIEVES MOM’S DEATH
Posts YouTube video detailing mother’s battle with COVID-19
Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns spoke about his mother, Jacqueline CruzTowns, and her death in an emotional YouTube video posted on his channel Monday.
Cruz-Towns died April 13 because of complications from COVID-19.
The video, titled ‘‘THE TOUGHEST YEAR OF MY LIFE,’’ features Towns in a one- on- one interview in which he details his mother’s battle with COVID-19 and eventually having to ‘‘pull the plug.’’
Towns explains that once his mother contracted COVID-19, her condition progressively worsened, and he persuaded her to go to a hospital. Although Cruz-Towns had to be put into a medically induced coma, Towns was optimistic because his mother was a ‘‘fighter,’’ but she started to say her goodbyes.
‘‘ I remember she just told me, ‘ I’m so sorry if I ever did anything that didn't make you proud of me as a mom,’ and I said, ‘ Stop talking like that; you're going to be just fine,’ ’’ Towns said. ‘‘ ‘ You’re going to be in a coma just for a little, and we’re going to bring you back out, and you’ll be good as new.’ ’’
Cruz-Towns was starting to progress in her recovery, and there was talk of bringing her out of the coma, Towns said.
He said he felt good about her chances until he got a phone call from his father.
‘‘He was just like, ‘She’s gone. She had a stroke during the night, and she's gone.’ I said, ‘Has she taken a step back? What’s the next step?’ Because in my mind, I’m just thinking about steps,’’ Towns said. ‘‘He had just told me those doctors thought there was no way for meaningful life for her after this stroke.’’
Towns eventually came to the difficult decision to take his mother off life support and began to inform family members to say their goodbyes. He began to get emotional when he detailed informing his grandmother.
‘‘That was the most difficult call for me,’’ Towns said. ‘‘There’s nothing worse than losing your kid.’’
Cruz-Towns died shortly after being taken off life support, and Towns says that he wanted to make the YouTube video for therapeutic purposes. Although he’s still grieving, he’s taking it one day at a time.
‘‘She was everything to all of us,’’ Towns said. ‘‘The least I can do is pick up some of her pieces — try to rebuild the puzzle. Life is a game, and I'm just playing one chess
piece at a time.’’