Earlier this year, Gabrielle Union expressed her compulsion to cherish memories for a profound reason. After all, her father, Sylvester ‘Cully’ Union, was diagnosed with dementia and his condition has rapidly advanced. And so Union is making sure to spend a lot of time with him and her family. As Cully’s 80th birthday rolled in, she knew how to make him feel special!

Union shared several pictures from the day with her Instagram followers and anyone whose loved one is in a similar position. “This past weekend we celebrated my Dad’s 80th birthday. My Dad has dementia. He definitely thinks @dwyanewade is still playing for the Heat but otherwise remembers quite a bit. He remembers all the great times he spent in Hawaii, so we brought some Hawaii to my Dad,” she wrote.

Worldwide, over 55 million people are affected by dementia. For Union’s father, who lives with it, memories have become hazy, but he remembers the team his so-in-law played for. Wade played for the Heat from 2003 to 2016 before playing for one season each for the Bulls and the Cavaliers. But in 2018, he made the decision to return to his old team for one last dance before his retirement. Clearly, he has been with the Heat for most parts of his career and some of his career highlights come from there. 

In July 2010, ‘The Big Three Era’ started after people got to know the team resigned Wade, and brought in LeBron James and Chris Bosh to create one of the first ‘super team’ franchises. What took place in the next four years is something NBA fans will never forget. The team went to the NBA Finals each year and even won two titles along the way. Miami Heat also had a 27-game win streak in the 2012-13 season.

Union further wrote, “He remembers his love of Crown Royal and missing his friends and being able to just hang out and talk sh-t, so his friends showed up and showed out. He remembers every neighbor he’s ever had and all of me and my sisters friends since birth. And SO many flew from around the country to celebrate him. He remembers his family (1st wife & 2nd wife relatives) and EVERYONE truly showed up and showered him with so much love.”

“Watching my Dad with his oldest surviving sister, my Aunt Phyllis, who’s 88, I saw the boy in him relax knowing big sis had his back. I saw his friend of over 70 plus years, Karen, show up and we watched them giggle and crack on each other. He misses his favorite nieces (all of yall are #1) and they were all there loving on him.”

“What dementia has robbed him of, his heart and soul have recovered. When my Dad saw me, he said “I really love you.” And I said “I love you too Dad” Then he replied, “How’s your Mom?” And with the gas face, I simply said “Sir” He then asked if I was happy and I told him I was. He nodded and with a grin asked, “You not taking no sh-t are you?” And I said “Never.” He told me he loved me again and that interaction stayed with me all day and made me pretty emotional.”

Back in the day, Cully was a military sergeant. So, one can imagine how blunt and direct he would have been in conversations, right? That’s what Wade faced. When he met Union’s father for the very first time, Cully questioned him within minutes (as quoted by Gabrielle Union), “What do you want with my daughter? She’s got her own sh-t, owns her own home, has a career… So whatcha bringing to the table that she doesn’t already have?”

“I just want to love her,” replied Wade, and this warmed the retired sergeant’s heart. However, his memories have been fading because of dementia but Gabrielle Union wants to make the most of the time they have together.

Sylvester ‘Cully’ Union: Gabrielle Union wants to make every birthday special

Cully is now 80, but last year, the fam celebrated his 79th birthday. Back then, too, Union shared how thankful she was to have her father around. “My Dad was diagnosed with dementia a few years back and we had to place him in memory care earlier this year,” she wrote on social media and also shared how things have been difficult.

But when she saw her father ‘Crown drinking’ and enjoying his day, it was the best gift she could receive.

Though the diagnosis has been tough on the family, it has changed Gabrielle Union’s perspective on life. As a part of that, she cherishes the presence of those around her, and when it comes to her kids, she prefers to let go of the idea of control.

“I think a lot of times as parents, we never want to admit that we don’t know. We haven’t had a clue sometimes and sometimes we need help or sometimes we have to search out the information. We want to appear to be in control, all-knowing, at all times.”

Initially, she was afraid of being a bad mother, but her mom has been giving her advice she wishes she knew earlier in life.