We Empower Magazine Presents… Dear Mom Series (Mother’s We’ve Lost) With India Chapple

A native of Atlanta, Ga., India Chapple is the eldest and only girl of 3 children. She attributes her upbringing primarily to her grandmother along with her mother. India excelled in academics and quickly became a community advocate, lending her passion and support to organizations such as Phi Beta Lambda, AIDS Atlanta, Lupus Foundation of America, Breast Cancer Awareness, Colon Cancer Awareness, Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta, and Mental Health National Association.

After receiving her degree in Business Management, India, along with her mother, Alethea Kemp, and close friend, Corey Guinn, founded Lyric Love Creative. For several years Lyric Love Creative served as a pillar of light and strength in the community, providing support to all creatives looking for guidance in the entertainment and arts industries. Inspired by the loss of her cousin to Down Syndrome, India and Lyric Love Creative established the “Smile, You’re Beautiful” Fashion Show, dedicated to shedding light on the challenges of those with Down Syndrome.

After suffering the loss of her mother in February 2019 and her business partner/close friend in November 2019, India took time to focus on her personal/mental health. As a result, a Mental Health Awareness Campaign entitled Kraving Kurves was born, focusing on the mental as well as physical empowerment of all who need it in the community. It was during this campaign that India made the decision to dissolve Lyric Love Creative and establish I C Creates, A luxury concierge, dedicated to creating memorable experiences so you don’t have to!

India is a devoted granddaughter and caregiver to her grandmother and cousins. She is a dependable sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She is a proud member of Victory City Church in Forest Park, under the leadership of Bishop Marc L House. She is a woman of Faith and a diligent tither. She is adamant that she is nothing without God and that she can accomplish anything with God.

We Empower Magazine Presents… Dear Mom Series (Mother’s We’ve Lost) With India Chapple. Dedicated to her beloved Mother, Alethea Denise Kemp-Heard (September 22, 1968- February 8, 2019).

Written by: India Chapple

If this is what separation anxiety is I know first-hand.

Helpless, uneasy, hollow, unattached from the world.

Unexplainable tears, not wanting to get out of bed, can’t eat, or overeating. Can’t sleep or oversleep. Just walking in circles with no entrance or exit.

Your heart skips a beat and drops to the pit of your stomach.

Your palms are sweating and you’re awake but dreaming.

This cannot be reality. How did I let this happen on my watch?

I was right there. Not even 5ft away and this happens.

Did I blink or nod off in the chair while we were talking? Wait; maybe I looked at my phone to check the time and you decided to make your Grand Exit!

How did I let this happen on my watch? I paid attention to everything. Your vitals, the medication dosage, the doctor’s prognosis, the change of behavior, the side effects and even the confessions.

I know I listened carefully because I had to give a report to all our family and friends. They depended on me for all that information. What did I miss?

We just had you a 50th birthday celebration in September. I invited as many as I could, and they came. We laughed, danced, and took pics. Ohhhhhh baby you had fun.

Now here we are October, and you can hardly stay awake. You’re hurting and I’m at work. Of course, I leave and get you to the ER! Oh, wait it’s probably your appendix. Man, what a sigh of relief. That’s an easy fix. So, I thought. But why is the doctor coming back to change her mind?

Legions on your liver and colon? Girl wait! What are you talking about? Ok, now I’m confused. Let me call my brother and a few others because I need some witnesses to this.

But wait! You didn’t panic like you usually do. No problem it’s probably the meds.

Now we’re looking at stage 4 colon cancer. When? How? Where? What? I’m asking all the questions at this point. Notebook in hand. We’re in November and it’s my birthday and you can barely get out of bed. So, you text saying you love me, and you’ll make it up to me when you feel better. Of course, I’m going to agree and put my bid in for my gift! But we never got to celebrate.

Christmas is here!! We spend time in Savannah with our cousins from the military. We laughed, sang, cried, did gift exchanges, took pics, and ate until we couldn’t eat anymore. I got you your favorite arcade game Mrs. Pac-man. That smile lit up the living room that day.

It’s January and you finally decide to do Chemo! You demolished the living room! Glass is everywhere! Wait what’s wrong?

You asked me why did you have to die? At this point, you broke. My response was why not? God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers. You yelled, cried, and screamed then finally agreed that we would ride this thing til the wheels fall off.

All right let’s ride this wave baby. I got snacks, water, Netflix, and blankets. We are camping out in the chemo room. Your blood pressure was slightly elevated, but they got it under control.

Girl, you did so good! Let’s go home and rest it’s been a long day. Wait you want to do a praise break in the driveway? Cool, I’m going to praise with you. I had no idea what the praise was for, but I was honoring the point.

5 am hits and you’re screaming for dear life! What happened? I just left a few hours ago to go home and you were fine. I immediately pack a suitcase and head your way.

We’re admitted into ICU, and this is where life changes. We’re pulling fluid off the lungs and abdomen but suddenly you no longer can walk on your own. Seriously! No worries we got a physical therapist. But the nurse is saying your kidneys aren’t functioning properly and there’s no change in the Cancer!

It’s been a week so let’s bring the family in for a round table. Now you know Bishop House was first on my list. That’s our spiritual father and he’s helping keep us sane. I follow his directions and then hey girl we going to a regular room. Look at God!!!

Progress is on my chart!!! We got this!!! Super Bowl is in full effect and the tv is in full blast!!! Alright Team Neise!!! You have a manicurist come do your nails and feet and a massage therapist for comfort. Girl, you are getting pampered and I’m looking like who did it and why lol!

We’re approved for rehab and just waiting on a bed at the facility. Yea we’re getting better and soon on the road to recovery, so I thought!

Wait it’s Monday and I need to go to the ER. I don’t know why? I can’t leave you alone, so I’ll call for backup. But now it’s Tuesday and grandma hits a pole head on with the grandkids in the car. No worries, everyone is still alive just a few broken bones and bruises. Wednesday you are refusing medication and food. Ma’am what you got going on ? You finally let me feed you some Jell-O and Water because I was going to snitch on you if not.

But later that night you wanted me to pray and read scriptures, so I read Bishop’s book “Rise and Be Healed .” Yes, we read it from beginning to end. I prayed and then you prayed, and you sang the song “He touched me.” It sounded amazing!

Now Thursday rolls around and you got the room on Antarctica, but you hate the cold, so I was all confused. No heat nowhere. I love the cold but baby I’m froze lol. Today was different. You kept asking about the time and if you could change beds. You didn’t want me to go to the cafeteria for food or anything. But Friday hits and it’s about 8 am February 8th and the nurse tries to wake you but no response.

We were just talking not even a few minutes ago. And I thought the medicine they gave you was helping you rest but you decided to start heading towards a place of rest. But wait they find a pulse. Ok cool let’s get her stable. Stop ! We lost her pulse start over! Ok ok ok ! I hear another one. Sigh of relief. But let me call everyone from A-Z because I need backup! You starting to give me anxiety!

13 hours waiting on you to open your eyes and nothing happened. Now I feel my heart in my stomach. My palms are sweating and I’m trembling. You’re making your exit, but no one feels this but me. I hear a loud scream and it confirms that you’re no longer waking up.

What just happened? How did my life change so fast? Both of my brothers are incarcerated; who’s going to hold my hand? No warning, no real goodbye. You slipped out of here while I was awake talking to you. When did I blink? Did I check the time? What did I miss?

Now it’s time to start life without you. 16 years apart in age and a life ahead of us. A business together and a lot of memories to make. But it all changed in less than 6 months.

I didn’t even get to shave my hair off and buy cute wigs.

After you transitioned our business partner Corey made his exit a few months later. I started the business completely over during the pandemic. The church moved into a beautiful building, and it even has a baptism pool. After 15 years of incarceration for 1 son and 2 1/2 for the other; both of your boys are home. The 3 amigos are back on the streets as a trio lol. I’m finally starting to look in the mirror longer without crying because I look just like you. I still don’t have any kids but I’m still helping to raise a few. Your mom is ok, but you know I got her. Auntie Meme started promoting your What Is a Mom Clothing line. Your grand babies are getting big and doing so well but they miss you. And girl what is up with these cats! You hated them but after you left, they are all I see! I’m over it at this point!

I miss you beyond words. Some days are cloudy, and others are rainy, but it’s been God and Victory City Church that has gotten me through. Ironically, some people are still finding out you’re no longer here but it’s something I’ll never forget.

I had to remember the prayer I prayed. I told God whether it was this side or the other side to heal you and that’s exactly what he did! I couldn’t fix this one. It was completely out of my control. Girlie you were one of a kind and the world will forever know it!!!!

I love you forever My Sunshine!

Love Always,

Your Sunshine Forever