NEED TO KNOW
- Dwyane Wade got a special surprise message and visit from his mom on Monday, July 7
- The retired NBA star, who is serving as a guest co-host on Today with Jenna & Friends this week, was moved by his mom’s special message on the show
- Jolinda Wade detailed how her addiction issues impacted her family through the years
Dwyane Wade’s mother, Jolinda Wade, has more than one reason to be proud of her son.
The 70-year-old pastor opened up about how her only son was there for her during some of her darkest moments during a special segment on Today with Jenna & Friends on Monday, July 7.
As the retired NBA star is co-hosting the morning show this week, co-host Jenna Bush Hager surprised him with a special pre-recorded message from “Mama Wade.”
“You are and have always been a blessing.” the mother of four shared. “A blessing to me and so many others whose lives you have touched.”
Jolinda Wade and Dwyane Wade in May 2025.
Michael Reaves/Getty
One particular blessing she recalled was how Dwyane kept in touch with her while she was in prison.
“I remember how we became pen pals when I was incarcerated,” she reflected. “Your letters got me through each day and enabled me to be a part of all the wonderful things that was happening in your life.”
She praised the father of five for his journey as a dad.
“When you sent me pictures of my grandson Zaire, I was able to tell from your letters how very proud you were,” Jolinda told her son. “You made up your mind that you were going to be the best dad you could be and that is exactly what you’ve become. Son, you are simply one of the best dads a child could have. Just like everything else in your life, you give fatherhood your all.”
She also praised Dwyane for how he parents his daughter Zaya, who came out as transgender in 2020.
Dwyane Wade with Gabrielle Union and his kids and mom Jolinda Wade.
Alexander Tamargo/Getty
“My love, I admire how you embrace your beautiful child Zaya — my granddaughter,” Jolinda said. “And you encourage her to be who she is. What a dad. You protect her, you speak with her to understand who she is. You don’t judge or condemn.”
Later in the episode, when Jolinda appeared in person to rave over her son, she got candid about her past struggles that led to her incarceration.
“My kids struggled with me,” she shared. “I grappled many years with drug addiction. Heroin, alcohol, pills, well, you know, we can go on down you name it. Alcoholism, homelessness, in and out of prison. Just living a life that was totally separated from my babies. One thing I always wanted to be was a mother and once I stopped being that person, I lost me. And I didn’t know how to grab me back at the time.”
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Jolinda also said she struggled with suicidal thoughts, saying it was her kids who always kept her from hurting herself.
Jolinda Wade and Dwyane Wade pose together in 2023.
Mike Lawrie/Getty
“When suicide came up, I would see their faces. I didn’t want to do it anymore,” she said. “One thing about my precious four babies — they never stopped loving me. They never stopped loving me, never judged me, never condemned me.”
Jolinda added that Dwyane has always encouraged her to share her story publicly.
“I remember my son, when they first wanted to do a story about me, and I told him because I wanted to respect the space that he had got in, and he said, ‘Ma, you go and tell your story because the only thing it’s going to do is help someone,’ ” she said.
As for Dwyane, he noted that “it has been a journey” when it comes to his life with his mom, adding, “No one makes me smile as big as my mom.”
He also explained his mindset surrounding his mother’s struggles, saying, “Growing up being a mama’s boy, being the youngest, being the only boy, I had my way. It was good. But you know, watching my mom going through something I couldn’t understand at the young age I was at, I didn’t even know what judgement really was. I just knew what love was.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.