Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
Tiffany Saine, the mother of Derrick Harmon, passed away shortly after receiving the news that her son was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21st pick in the NFL Draft.
As the announcement was made, Harmon displayed deep emotion, and the ESPN broadcast featured a heartfelt video in which he reflected on his mother’s health struggles and acknowledged the significant role she played in his life. At the time of the selection, Saine was on life support, and Harmon expressed his intention to visit her in the hospital following the ceremony on Thursday night.
“It was a little bittersweet, man,” Harmon remarked regarding his selection. “My mom wasn’t with me; she’s at the hospital right now on life support. That was a little bittersweet because she worked just as hard as I did to reach this moment.”
Saine passed away shortly after Harmon informed her of the Steelers’ draft decision, as reported by Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
In a statement, Steelers president Art Rooney II conveyed condolences to Derrick Harmon and his family during this challenging period. “While we are thrilled to have drafted Derrick in the first round of the NFL Draft, our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of his mother, Tiffany Saine. We will support Derrick and his family as he navigates this time of grief. It is our hope that Derrick finds solace in the love and support from both the organization and Steelers fans worldwide. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Derrick’s family,” he stated.
Saine experienced a stroke in 2022, which resulted in paralysis on her left side. Harmon mentioned that he utilized some of his endorsement income from his college career to acquire a wheelchair-accessible van for her. He credited her resilience in the face of health challenges as a driving force for his own determination.
“After all those brain surgeries, man, she did not give up,” Harmon shared. “She took me to practice, still went to work, and I always thought, from the very beginning of my college career, why can’t I keep going? If I’m tired, injured, whatever it is, why can’t I keep going if she can?”
Source
www.theguardian.com