Gabrielle Union, the renowned actress known for her role in "Being Mary Jane," recently suffered a major loss in her life as she lost her father, Sylvester "Cully" Union Jr., after his long battle with dementia. Throughout this difficult period, her husband, Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade, has been a strong support system by her side.
Heartbreaking Announcement
A few days ago, Union went public with the tragic news of her father's passing. She posted a heartfelt clip of her father during his younger years, enjoying time with his family and children. The caption of the emotional post read: "Yesterday morning, my Dad, Sylvester 'Cully' Union Jr., passed away. No matter how much you think you know about dementia, nothing prepares you for the painfully slow disappearing of your loved one."
The "Riff Raff" actress added, "First it’s repeating words or forgetting little things here or there, then BOOM, he can’t swallow or walk. The them that you know gets smaller and smaller. You hold out hope for sustained eye contact or a smile; even a hand squeeze can make you feel like they could come back to you 'normal' at any second. It’s brutal and it’s what he experienced, but it wasn’t who he was."
Public Struggle with Dementia
Over the last few years, Union has been open about how her father's dementia affected his daily life and how heartbreaking it was for her to witness his decline. She has also spoken about the rising healthcare costs related to his memory care, which made her more conscious of her earnings and spending.
Support from Dwyane Wade
While Union grieves her father's death, she has kept herself busy with the company of her husband and their daughter. Dwyane Wade has been a pillar of strength for the actress during this challenging time. The couple continues to navigate through their loss together, leaning on each other and their family.
