EURweb |
MAMA VANDROSS PUSHES DIABETES AWARENESS: Luther’s mother urges medical checkups for disease that contributed to son’s death.
*Mary Ida Vandross, the 82-year-old mother of late R&B icon Luther Vandross, is using the publicity surrounding her son’s new album to warn people against the dangers of diabetes, the disease behind the deaths of three of her four children and one grandson. (Her fourth child, a daughter, died after suffering from asthma.)
"It is with me daily that my family was taken from me," Vandross told Reuters in a telephone interview. "Diabetes is really dangerous. Just get yourself checked."
Her appeal coincides with the release of a nationwide survey of 2,000 Americans that found a growing number of adults aged 18 to 40 are living with or at risk of type 2 diabetes – a disease caused by genetic factors and often brought on by obesity and lack of exercise.
Luther Vandross, who died last year due to complications of the disease, never fully recovered after suffering a stroke two years earlier. His weight fluctuated often, peaking at over 300 pounds.
Vandross’ new CD of hits, “The Ultimate Luther Vandross,” includes two new songs recorded right before his stroke called "Shine" and "Got You Home."
