Daughter sees different side of her mom
“I always thought I would pursue music. It never really worked out. But I play piano and I sing.
“I actually got to sing the National Anthem at an Astros game several times. The first time, I was 18. I had sent in a VHS tape, and they called to let me know. It wasn’t a great experience. There was a three-second delay, and I had never dealt with anything like that. I just kept slowing down because I couldn’t hear myself.
“I told myself that I’d do it again after that, but I never had the courage until I sent in another audition many years later. My daughter, Lyla, was 4, and I felt that I needed her to see me do something that I love after the (spinal cord) tumor removal. She had come to the hospital and laid in bed with me. She saw me struggle. She was with me when I had to learn how to walk again.
“So I contacted the Astros and asked how to send in a video now. I assumed they no longer did VHS tapes. They told me what I needed to do, and later they called and said I could sing.
“It was really special for Lyla to see a different side of me. I had wanted to back out so bad. I was so scared that I would forget the words or that I would be feeling too much pain to do well. But I figured even if I bombed, she’d have seen me try. And I did fine. I guess I’m super stubborn. I just keep trying.”
— Sheryl Duncan
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