Courtesy of Jae Crowder
Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder poses with his mother, Helen Thompson, during a game in 2016 when he was a member of the Boston Celtics.
Editor’s note: On Aug. 22, 2017, Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder lost his mother, Helen Thompson, to cancer on the same night he learned he was being traded from Boston to Cleveland. The pain of losing her still affects him. He hopes that by sharing his grief, it can help others cope with personal tragedy. The following letter was composed by Deseret News sports writer Eric Woodyard from an interview with Crowder.