The cop in my life... (True story)

My mother in law came into my life roughly 12 years ago. She was a pretty intimidating woman. She was short in stature and as tough as nails. The first time I met her I was pregnant. I will never forget walking in her home and her saying,"Son is there something you want to tell me?" I could have killed my husband when he said "Nope" and then went to jump in the shower. I mean really?!?! I tried not to show that I was nervous and after a few minutes I realized I had no reason to be nervous. We talked for quiet some time and I found myself not wanting to leave. I promised that I'd be back soon and I didn't lie. I gave birth Taylor in November and I'll never forget seeing this woman who was so tough holding a tiny infant with such a loving embrace. The months passed by and we got the phone call that would bring us to our knees. Mom had been diagnosed with cancer. They estimated that she has 2yrs to live. She decided to go through chemotherapy because she wanted to be around for the boys. She had adopted two of her grandsons and had been raising them along side her husband since they were babies. The day's got harder and I watched her struggle to hang on. The hospital stays got more frequent but never easier. Then the day we knew was bound to come even though we prayed for a miracle had arrived. As I rushed out of work I couldn't get to her fast enough. Three days, that's all we had left. She was at the hospital again and they were going to transfer her to hospice. Ever hospital stay my husband and We always stayed every night until she fell asleep. She had made it clear that she didn't like staying at the hospital alone and had told us repeatedly "thank you for staying until I fell asleep". We were always asked to bring her favorite candy and if we didn't then boy were we in trouble. This time just like the others was different though. We walked in and mom couldn't speak and the nurse said she wouldn't know who we were. No one had prepared me for what I was walking into. I'm not sure anyone could have. I sat on the couch with my head down. The tears wouldn't stop. My husband said "Ashley". As I looked up mom was reaching for me. I dropped beside the bed as she rubbed my head as if telling me it was going to be ok. That was a sleepless night. The next day we arrived at hospice knowing that all of our lives would soon be changed. I watched dad lean over mom as she laid so peaceful kissing her bald head telling her how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. I watched people come and go as she held on. Day 3 came too soon. The nurses came by the room and said that she wasn't letting go because we were all there. One by one people said their goodbyes and left. I was the last one to go into the room. I shut the door and pulled up the chair beside her. I talked to her as if she were going to answer me and God I wish she would have. I said...
"Mom they said that you weren't letting go because we are all here and I don't believe them. I believe you want me here until you fall asleep and I'm not leaving until you do." I didn't think the tears would ever stop. My husband knocked on the door as I looked at her and said "your son knows um stubborn like you and they will have to pry me from this chair". The door opened and he said "Ashley the nurses said we should go". I looked at him and said gasping for air at this point "she wants me here till she falls asleep " he knew I wasn't going to move from her side. It was not even 2 minutes later mom took her last breath. The rest was a blur. The car ride home was quiet that day. At her service We sat along with a large number of police officers that had known mom. They all looked so nice in their uniforms. I couldn't help but think how they all reminded me of mom. Intimidating yet big hearted. We all sat numb... Dad got up and spoke. His words were kind and heartbreaking. Amazing grace sang by one of the family members left us all In tears. The pastor had gotten up and said we are going to use this time for people to share things they would like to say. I looked at my husband and said "I feel like I'm supposed to say something" and he said "if you don't then you know you'll regret it for the rest of your life". He knows me all too well. As I gathered the courage to walk up I noticed a nicely dressed black man walking up to the platform. I listened to his as he said "Officer Smith was a amazing woman. I was a drug addict with a horrible addiction. She actually arrested me. I deserved to go to jail but she didn't think so. She took me to church instead. I've been clean since that day and I am now a minister ". I knew she was an amazing woman but not everyone got to hear what I had been able to witness. I took the stand knowing I was going to lose it. I told everyone I was going to try to hold it together but it probably wouldn't. I told the story of when I first met her. The next statement is when I fell apart and so did everyone else... " every child looks up to a superhero and this woman was my superhero" my head dropped and I couldn't contain the tears. The pastor walked up wrapping his arm around me. I stood for a minute as he talked about how I much I loved her. As I walked down the isle to make my way back to my seat I looked at the ground when someone grabbed my arm pulling me down into the pew. I looked up and it was one of the officers. She was tall with broad shoulders and looked very stern. She wrapped her arm around me and said "that was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard" with tears running down her face...
Everyone has been so caught up in sharing how cops are so horrible. I can't speak for every police officer and you can't either but I know my mom wasn't the things I've read. She was a superhero. So before you become so quick to judge a book by its cover the way I did, give it a few minutes. Maybe you'll meet someone who changes your life the same way I did. 
I love you mom. 
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