Proud mom! D’Moi Hodge’s mother encourages single moms
D’Moi Hodge has given the Virgin Islands yet another reason to be proud. The young star from Cane Garden Bay has made history by becoming the first Virgin Islander to sign a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers — one of the biggest basketball teams in the NBA.
The two-way contract means that Hodge will get the chance to play for the Lakers’ developing team, and as he improves, he’ll have the chance to advance to the bigger team, which has some of the biggest players in the world.
Reminiscing on her son’s journey, Hodge’s mother Cleopatria King-Defreitas said all her hard work and sacrifice have paid off. She added that she is happy her family and community stood by her son and supported his childhood dream of becoming a basketball player.
She is urging single parents in the community to continue doing all they can to ensure their children have all they need to succeed.
“For me as a single mom, it was rough. It was never easy. But when you have a strong family support system, you can make it. I had a strong family support system,” King-Defreitas said in an interview on the Morning Braff radio show.
She continued: “I got my first child when I was 17, I got D’Moi when I was 20, so I had two babies by the age of 20. So just to encourage the single moms out there, the sacrifices were [worthwhile].”
King-Defreitas recalled the days when she worked two jobs just to provide for her children. She said she is extremely proud of her second-born who has overcome many challenges on his journey to one of the top basketball teams in the world.
The historic draft event
While many in the community attended a watch party to see D’Moi being drafted last week, his mother said she almost missed the event due to ongoing health challenges. But she said she proposed in her heart that nothing would stop her from seeing her son make history.
“I’ve been having minor strokes, so three weeks ago, I had to fly to Orlando. I have five weeks of appointments but I was determined to make it to D’Moi’s draft. So I changed everything (appointments) on faith that everything will be ok. I said nothing will happen to me before this draft is over. I have to see this through. All the scans and tests they want to do, they have to do it after the draft,” King-Defreitas said.
She also confirmed that a number of her family members in different states travelled to New York so they could witness D’Moi’s historic moment and show him support.
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Single parents give the best parenting to their children. No questions asked; do as I say, period.
Your successful draft to the LA Lakers is not only a historical achievement, but one that will hopefully inspire other Virgin Islanders to pursue their dreams.
Continue to stay focused, don’t forget your humble beginnings, save your money for a rainy day, and invest wisely
What you accomplished was not easy, but you did it.
As for Mom, King-Defreitas, you can hold your head high. As you said all your sacrifices have paid off. As a self-described single-mom, you hung in there with your kids and did what you had to do for them. Now you are being rewarded in seeing them accomplish their goals.
So many parents who wish things for their kids think in terms of them being doctors and lawyers, but there are kids who have other dreams as well.
Those kids need our support similarly, and it’s good when parents just support their kids whatever their dreams may be.
Now, because D’Moi is now a part of the Lakers, I’m definitely going to be tuning in to the Lakers games and rooting for the team every chance I get.
All the best D’Moi. You made not only your family proud, but many of us fellow Virgin Islanders as well.
Congratulations and All the the very best D’Moi. You have done British Virgin Islands very very proud. We are happy for you and your family especially you mom. BVI need this kind of publicity right now. Continue to be the Shining Light that you are.
Warning: beware of them LA thots!
Congrats, we are
Congratulations to our cousin and the entire family.D’moi you put BVI on the map. We are proud of you and continues to pray for you.
Why is it other people’s sexual provocativeness always seems to come up in conversations when they really don’t need to be? Specifically that of women?
You wanna be a groupie, huh? be honest
The CGB community is so proud of you Cleo and your amazing son. So happy to have seen him grow and you with your warm, charming, personality. You have a great family. Girls too! Love from CGB
Mss, I pray that you will be well and live to enjoy your son’s success for many years. You are model to young single mothers to invest in their children. Congratulations to your son, and may God continue to guide him in his career.