Prayer Request (Note: Jabbar is with Jesus but his Mom is stuck here and hurting)

The Fresno Bee ^ | May 10, 2003 | Louis Galvan

[Saundra Duffy]

Mary Thompson lowered her head, shut her eyes and held onto the couch as she recalled the last words she heard from her dying teenage son. "I've been shot. Call 911," Jabbar Thompson cried out to his mother before he collapsed on the dining room floor of the family's small home in the 500 block of North Farris Avenue in central Fresno.

[Saundra Duffy]

Jabbar and his Mom are members of our Church. Jabbar was a sweet, gentle, good boy. He was never in trouble. And Jabbar's Mother is a sweet, caring, loving soul.

We visited with Mary last night. She is absolutely devastated. She says the worst thing is that the police officer would not let her accompany Jabbar to the hospital. Jabbar was still alive when the paramedics left with him in the ambulance. Mary says the police officer told her she had to stay behind to be questioned - like SHE was a suspect. I told Mary she should talk to a lawyer about this but she says since they are poor and African American no one will care.

Meanwhile, the neighbors are doing car washes today (Sunday) to raise money for the funeral. Our Bishop came to see Mary and our Church is going to help, of course. Mary is loved by all and Jabbar was just like his Mom.

We are all worried about Mary. I told her to call the doctor to get some medication to help her cope. (She just weeps and weeps and can't eat or sleep.) But she says it's too hard to reach a doctor.

Please pray for Mary. Thanks.

[Saundra Duffy]

Fresno prayer bump - with tears.

[Miss Marple]

What a heartbreaking story! I will keep Mary in my prayers.

[Saundra Duffy]

LDS bump

[Saundra Duffy]

Thank you, Miss Marple.

[Miss Marple]

On this Mother's Day, please keep this poor woman in prayer.

[I still care]

I went through the sudden death of my husband this year, he was only 50. It is very difficult, but my church is there for me 100% and that is SO important. I do have a few suggestions, I hope you don't mind.

The most important thing the church can do for her is surround her with love and prayer. And realize that as time goes on it gets harder for quite a while - at first you are in shock, and everyone pitches in. Also you seem to think that maybe they will come back, even though logically you know that is not possible. But your mind pretends they are on "vacation".

After awhile, when it really starts to sink in they are not coming back, it begins to really hurt, and that is when it is so important for people to be there. Sympathy cards really DO help, I was surprised to find, even though they made me cry. And while talking about the deceased makes you cry, you love it when people talk about how they loved them. I grasped for every mention of my husband in conversation, so don't be afraid to bring her son up once in a while even after time has passed.

It sounds like Mary is terribly depressed. Who wouldn't be? But a proper medication can really help, especially short term. She can't concentrate or think of getting one right now - it's too hard. If I were a good friend, I would take a very active role in helping her to call her doctor or taking her to one, because that's probably too much effort for her right now to handle herself.

I hope this helps. I will pray for Mary at church this am.

[Saundra Duffy]

Mother's Day bump.

[kayak]

Praying for Mary and her family as they deal with this tragedy. May the love of God enfold them and bring them peace and comfort!

[JustAmy]

Prayers being sent for Mary and her family.

[Bahbah]

I can't even imagine the pain of losing a child. Praying for Mary and Herman.

[cardinal4]

Prayer bump.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Offering my prayers.

[Right_in_Virginia]

What a horrific tragedy. Prayers for Mary and her son.

[firewalk]

prayer bump

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Will put her and the family on my prayer list.

It appears that the police were being hardnosed when they didn't let her go to the hospital with him. Sometimes people (not her in this case) don't want to give the info that they do know. Other times they have bits and pieces of info that they aren't aware that they know to give the police a vital clue to solving the case.

[deadhead]

Prayers for Mary

[cyborg]

Sometimes, however, he would get depressed, she said.

"He would tell me he was tired of this place and that he wanted to move and get a job," she said.

"Sometimes he would say he thought he would die soon," she said.

**Not to be indelicate, but has suicide entered into the investigation? How sad on Mother's Day though.

[Alamo-Girl]

I join in your prayer for Mary, Herman and the whole family!