Oprah said that she felt like she had left too many words unspoken after she left Vernita so she returned to her home in Milwaukee and enlisted the help of gospel singer and friend Wintley Phipps to sing an a capella version of  “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” via Facetime. Then, she said the following;

“I know it must have been hard for you as a 17-year-old pregnant, scared girl in Mississippi,” Winfrey recalls she said to her mother, looking directly into her eyes. “Many people no doubt told you to get rid of that baby. To have an abortion or give me away. But you didn’t. And for that I thank you. I know you did the best you could with what you had. And for that I thank you. And look how it’s all turned out.”

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Oprah also revealed her half-sister Patricia’s last words to their mother, hoping to provide comfort in her very last moments.

“Please forgive yourself for giving me away,” she says Patricia told their mother. “I have forgiven you. I came back. We are your daughters, and we are here to help ease the transition. We are your daughters. We thank you for life.”

Though Vernita is gone Oprah has Patricia and a large support system to help her through this first Mother’s Day without Vernita. Hopefully the essay also granted a piece of healing during this difficult process as well.

You can read Oprah’s beautiful tribute to her mother here.