Brian Lara's Mother Passes Away

Brian Lara's mom Pearl Lara died early this morning. Mrs. Lara had suffered a mild stroke in October last year and was hospitalized for five days that month and was expected to recover over time.

In October last year, Mrs. Lara who had been ill for a while, fell down at her Santa Cruz home and was rushed to the hospital suffering from a mild stroke.

West Indies batsman Brian Lara was in Jamaica at that time and had been very concerned on receiving the news of the stroke suffered by his dear mother. We can only offer our sincere sympathy to him at this time, as we know how close he and his mother were.

We are sure he can have some comfort in knowing he was close at hand this time (Recall: Brian's current injury has prevented him from actively participating in the sport of cricket).

Mrs. Lara always kept her faith in the lord and said that God knew best. It is this fath that will have to carry her children through this difficult process

This very polite and pleasant lady was a mother of 11. In May last year, Pearl Lara spoke to this reporter on her illness. She suffered with cervical spondylosis (occurs when the neck bone is pressing against the nerve which can paralyze the arm) and also battles diabetes, and has lost the use of her left arm for over 1 1/2 years, there is no sign of improvement locally as well.

At that time Mrs. Lara was recovering from a broken arm, "The problem is that I broke my right hand, which was my only good hand, as I cannot use my left arm for a long time now, it is very hard for me, as I cannot even dress myself, but thankfully I have my children to help me," Pearl Lara said in May from her Santa Cruz home .

"They have all come together and ensure that I am able to get things done during the day and get on with my life, I thank the lord for all of them."

"It seems to me; as if I have to live with this pain and sometimes it gets worse. I have seen so many doctors in Trinidad .......... I am just tired"

The 66 year old Pearl Lara admitted "All of my children are working now and it is not easy for any of them to take time off to take me to the United States.....I really cannot travel alone. I understand that and I am coping as bet as I can then," she stated.

"It is now over 12 years (April 16th) since my husband died, and he and all my children have progressed in that time, it has not been easy, but I have managed to keep the family together" she added.

As with any concerned mother Pearl Lara had one main wish for her son Brian, the Double World Record Holder, "Brian is a tired soul, he gives his whole heart and soul to cricket, but our cricketers much be tired because they have been playing non-stop cricket for a long time." "When Brian bats and he does not make many runs, he becomes very disappointed, he wants to do very well always for the West Indies team.

"If you look at the television when he gets out, he is always talking to himself and mumbling to himself, he is upset to be dismissed, he knows how much the team is depending on him."

"Sometimes there always is a lot of pressure on him, but he has learnt that so much is expected of him, that when he does not do well, he feels it, he is very competitive." Pearl Lara believed at that time though that Brian's problems with his eyes needed to be addressed.

"Certainly his eyes give him some problems, especially from the glare from the sun and it is a distraction. The eye is so very important."

"But I know that he will make the necessary arrangements soon to have this situation corrected with his eyes."

She however said she was calling ". .....for all the support the team can get from the public, because these boys are all representing us in the West Indies, We need to stay loyal to the team, it is a difficult time, but we must keep the faith"

"I just hope that our players can get a rest and get time to spend with family and friends. All this cricket is not always good, people need to have time to relax."

At this time we would like that nation to say a short prayer for this great lady who has gone to get her rest in heaven. God bless her and her family.