I didn’t know they thought of me like that
When mother-of-eight Roseclair McGowan was 30-years-old she fell critically ill with meningitis.Her daughter Carol Ann Denbrook, who was 10 at the time, found her passed out in a coma-like state and couldn’t wake her up.Mrs McGowan believes that through her own mother’s constant prayer she regained her strength, enabling her to go on and help raise eight children, 24 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.“I was so small at that time I can’t even fathom what it would have been like without her,” Mrs Denbrook said of the illness that nearly claimed her now 85-year-old mother’s life.Mrs McGowan supported her husband through two heart attacks and was at the bedsides of two of her daughters as they battled breast cancer.The senior was shocked when she heard she had been selected as The Royal Gazette’s ‘MUM-in-a-million’ contest winner. She tearfully recalled memories of teaching her children to cook, clean and fish, but “had no words” to describe the honour of being nominated.“It’s so surprising,” she said. “I really don’t know what to say. I am overjoyed and didn’t know they thought of me like that.”Mrs McGowan was nominated by her eldest daughter Margaret Lee.Mrs Lee said: “I had to write in and just felt when I saw the ad I had to enter for my mom even if it doesn’t win. The hardest part was cutting it down to 250 words.“What I admire most about her is her perseverance and joy no matter what she goes through. She has a constant bubbly, joyous manner about her and she encourages us even though we are up in age.”Both Mrs Lee and Mrs Denbrook were diagnosed with breast cancer — in 2005 and 1996 respectively — and said their mother was a huge support.“From the moment I found out I had cancer, to my decision to have a mastectomy, she came and helped me through it,” said Mrs Denbrook. “She helped with my children and would cook [and] do certain chores around the house.“She supported us in every way, encouraged us and even though she was a bit frightened herself I remember she visited me when I had to go to Boston for radiation. She couldn’t comprehend it all, yet she was there.”Her sister Mrs Lee said it was always encouraging having their mother around. Just one touch from her was comforting during her own time in need.“I remember one time feeling very down and she would visit every Sunday after church. My husband and I, even though [I was] going through chemotherapy, would cook dinner.“Just her touch would remove all the downs I was feeling, but I don’t think I ever told her that.”Mrs McGowan dealt with her fair share of challenges as a mother in the 1950s and 60s. Her husband, carpenter Edwin Michael Reginald McGowan, was the sole breadwinner.They lived in a small two-bedroom home in Smiths and made do with the little they had.Mrs McGowan said: “I didn’t have very much but I loved all my children. I loved just spending time with them and hearing about their achievements and making sure they got their homework done.“To me them getting an education was important because I didn’t go to high school. My mom had [13] children and couldn’t afford to keep them in school. I wanted my children to have more opportunities.”Mrs Denbrook said one of her favourite childhood moments with her mum happened every year around the holiday season.“On Christmas Eve she used to take me out to do the Christmas shopping for the other babies, it was our special thing.“And I loved waking up on the morning and seeing the sweet surprises on the other children’s faces and even the ones for me. It wasn’t much but it was something we cherished. She would get us practical toys and stuff.”The girls also cherished spending time with their mother while having picnics on the beach or at county games.Mrs Lee described her mum as a disciplinarian, but said she also instilled in her children a sense of independence.She taught her sons how to iron clothes, wash dishes and cook, rather than relying on a woman to do those tasks for them, she said.“She treated us as her treasures. [She is a] miraculous, marvellous mum at 85-years-old and we honour and love her.”The family hope to treat their mum to a home-cooked meal on Mother’s Day this Sunday. Mrs Lee will be away for the special occasion, but said she would likely speak to her mum on the phone.
A lot of people wrote into
The Royal Gazette to share their warm and inspiring stories about their ‘MUM-in-a-Million’.In the end, senior Roseclair McGowan and foster mum Yvonne Harrell were selected as the competition winners. The pair will receive gift certificates for treatments at Willowstream spa at Fairmont Southampton.However all of the Island’s great mums deserve to be highlighted, which is why we have compiled a list of some of the smart, funny and heartwarming things our readers have said about the special women in their lives.Aqeela Muhammad said about her mum: “The way she smiles it’s like a million white daisies and the way she laughs is like a million butterflies fluttering. The way she kisses me on my cheek feels like a million butterflies kissing on your cheek so soft and so gentle and so sweet like honey.”Six-year-old Myeisha Sharrieff said: “My mummy is special to me. She is special to me because she lets me eat candy, watermelon, lollipops, Popsicles and my favourite food - ice cream. My mummy is fun, great, funny and fantastic.“My mummy is funny because she makes really funny faces, she tickles me and she makes me laugh. She calls me funny names like ‘Stinky Pooh’.”Cody Richardson, from St David’s Primary School, wrote: “I have two older brothers. My mum said that when I was born she didn’t expect me and said that I was a gift from God and that she loved me from the first time she saw me on the ultrasound.”Tahquaysha Tucker, age 13, sent a heartfelt note about her mother that said: “When I feel scared and alone my mum is always there even on those days when I don’t feel like talking and I just want to be alone.“She can sense that something is wrong and she comes and tries to make me talk so she could make it better.”Ricky Mallory, from Mount Saint Agnes, said: “I would have no different mum no matter what. I wish that she would never get old and live up [to a] million years. She loves me more than her husband!”Jakia Minors, from St David’s Primary School, said: “My mum deserves [the] MUM-in-a-million award because my mother is a mum that comes home at 4pm every day to cook. She always says ‘you are a lucky child because a lot of other parents don’t come home and cook and spend time together with their children at all’.”Primary school student, Isaiah Wales, said his mum loved him more than anything else in the “galaxy”.“She told me that if I die her life is a mess. My mum loves me more than bears love honey. My mum says that she would never put a man above me in her love chart.”
The Royal Gazette thanks everyone for their wonderful entries — the panel found it challenging to select only two.
