TINY TAMEKA COTTLE: I BECAME VERY DEPRESSED AFTER MY BABY DIED
The death of a child is a painful experience for any parent and for singer Tiny Tameka Cottle, the pain was no different when she lost her second baby with rapper T.I. a.k.a Clifford Harris. In a recent interview with Essence.com, Tiny talks about the depression she suffered after miscarrying baby Lelah Amore. Tiny explains,
“From the time I was pregnant, the doctors told me the sac that holds the baby was split in two and they had not combined by the time she had turned 16 weeks old. As a result, she was positioned in the middle of those two sacs in her own sac. They told me there was a possibility that she could get tied up in her umbilical cord, but no one knew how or why this happened. Still, I never thought that I would lose the baby. Even the day before I visited the specialist I was told that everything was okay with the baby. When I went to see the specialist, that’s when they determined there was no heartbeat.”
Tiny admits that she felt very depressed after the death of Lelah.
“I was very upset and depressed for a while. It definitely brought us closer in our relationship. I kept a lot of company around me to help me keep my mind off of it, so I wouldn’t be so sad. She was 6 months old and I named her Lelah Amore. I keep her belongings near me—pictures and roses [from the burial]. It was very deep. Here I am, in the hospital to have a baby, deliver it, but I’m going to go home with no baby. After Lelah was born, I kept her in the room with me the whole day. They placed her in the little basket and we dressed her in an outfit and had a blanket wrapped around her. They came and got her because her body went cold and I wanted her back so they warmed her body again and I kept her. People might think that’s crazy, but I just needed to be with her. Everybody came to visit her and then me and [T.I.] had our time alone with her. We had a funeral for her and it was beautiful. T.I. did a good job with the burial. I don’t go back to visit her grave that often because it makes me too sad, but I do go for holidays and special days. My experience taught me not to take life for granted. Reverend Run’s wife, Justine, reached out to me and shared some very powerful and encouraging words with me during that time and I so appreciated it.”
Through it all, Tiny and her fiance T.I. have managed to grow closer together. Although rapper T.I. will be going away to prison this March, Tiny says that she will “stick it out” with her fiance.
“I know my man’s heart and because of that I’m going to be everything I need to be for him. Yes, he’s made mistakes, but so have I. If your man stands up for you and is there whenever you need him, then doesn’t he deserve your unconditional love and support? If I know that about my man, then that’s the kind of woman I’m going to be for him. I might need him in different ways than he needs me, but if being his woman means loving, supporting and putting his mind at ease, then the least I can do is step up to the plate and be there for him and our family.”
In all, T.I. and Tiny are parents to six children: sons Messiah Ya’Majesty, 8, and Domani Uriah, 7(their mom is T.I.’s ex-girlfriend Lashon Dixon); son Clifford “King” , 4, Major Philant, 8 months(mom is Tameka Cottle);daughter Zonnique is Tameka’s daughter from a previous relationship and daughter Deyjah is T.I.’s daughter from a previous relationship.
Republished; original print atEssence.com
I can’t believe she opened up about that finally.I guess its a part of her grieving cause I know no matter what she’ll never get over loosing her.I sympathize with her.I have a daughter around her oldest age and I have a 3 mos baby girl.I really wanted another daughter and I’m sure she wanted to give T.I a baby girl so I would of been devastated.They both are doing a great job.They have some beautiful kids.
My heart goes out to Tiny. I forgot that she had experienced this. My mother carried a baby 9 months and after finding out it died, had to carry it two more weeks before giving birth (they didn’t induce labor back in the 60’s). I can just imagine the pain of losing a child whether in inutero (sp?) or when the child is here. Kudos for her to opening up about such a very painful, personal experience.
I CANT IMAGINE HOW HARD IT MUST BE
she’s strong
Tiny has delt with alot i wish her peace and happiness. So kings name is Clifford king Harris?
Wow God Bless her. That is so sad.
No, King is just a nickname. He is a junior, he has T.I.’s full name. From the previous posts, T.I. was trying to leave Tiny while she was pregnant, then she had the miscarriage and he was there to support her and they got back together.
I always like to see TI and Tiny together. I think they make a beautiful couple and its good to know that they are doing whatever it takes to be good parents, and to keep their family together. It’s sad that they had to experience the lost of their daughter, but its good to see them holding it together. I wish them many more happy years and blessings in their life.
SO SAD
Unless u have had a child 2 pass u have no clue how it feels. I read her story and cried, my son died from cancer at 6 months old. It has been 9 years and the pain is still there. You just learn to handle it but it never goes away. God bless them and may it bring them closer together
God bless her!
im so so sorry 4 the loss of ur daughter. i know how hard it is. i went through it too. i have a son and we wanted a baby girl so badly. after my son was 3 yrs. old i finally had the great news of being pregnant of a baby girl. but the happiness didnt last long cuz when i was 4 1/2 months there was no heart beat. i lost the baby. it was very painful for me and my husband. i cried so much. but i always had faith in God. things happens cuz it wasnt meant to be. but like i said b4, i Have faith in God. so guess wat, after that experience i had another boy and a year later i a beautiful and healthy baby girl. she’s now 4 months old. now i have a beautiful family. (2 boys and a girl) couldnt ask 4 more. so i just wanted to tell u to always have faith in God. he will return that gift 2 u. take care.
wow that is very deep and how the h e double hockey sticks know if they was gon break up or not well he made a big mistake though but that story is sad i do feel sorry for them
I SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT