Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter

A party just isn't a party without royalty. A future Miss Jamaica? Zosha Chung practises her smile for the cameras.

Saturday, December 30, saw a triple celebration for the Ford family, of Patrick Gardens, in St. Andrew. They certainly had a lot to celebrate. December 28 marked 32 years since Linval and Sheila Ford were married. December 29 was the 23rd birthday of their son Romar, and their daughter Dr. Monique Ford was home for the first time in two years.

To celebrate, the family threw a party at their home, which was attended by numerous family members and friends. The Fords' loved ones described them as an exemplary family, and they praised the couple for accomplishing 32 years of marriage through love, commitment, communication and trust.

Mr. Ford described Romar as a good son and boasted that most evenings when he and his wife returned home from work, their dinner would be there waiting for them because he had cooked it.

He told his son, who is a chef at Couples Ocho Rios, that he was very proud of him.

To his daughter, Monique, who is currently practising interventional cardiology at Mayo Clinic, in Minnesota, he said, "If finance permitted it, you would have children like her forever. All parents would love to have a child like her." Monique was named intern of the year during her first year of residency at Mayo Clinic, and last year, received the Leon McCarthy Woman of Medicine award.

Lifestyle transformation consultant and nutritionist, Paul Johnson, described Monique as, "a beautiful flower blossoming from a tree and to understand that flower you have to study the tree, which is Linval and Sheila.

Blessed to be so loved

Dr. Monique Ford prepares to hug lifestyle transformation consultant and nutritionist, Paul Johnson, as he welcomes her home for the holidays. - Contributed photos

In her response, Monique said it was wonderful to know there were so many people who cared, and that she was blessed to be so loved. Of her parents she noted, "There are no two parents more exemplary than mine. Mother is a gem. If I'm half the mother to my children as mom is to me, they will be blessed." She said that growing up, her parents ensured that she got the one thing that could never be taken from her, an education.

Among those who celebrated with the family were: master of ceremonies, radio personality, Tony Young; lifestyle transformation consultant and nutritionist Paul Johnson; his wife, Doris, and daughter, Layna; Professor Charles Denbow, senior medical officer of the Annotto Bay Hospital; Dr. Alrich Grey, from Mayo Clinic; Chairman of Cari-Med Glen Christian, and his wife, Marva, cardiologist at University of the West Indies; general manager of Cari-Med, Dennis Grant, and his wife, Tonya, founder and president of Jamaica Osteoporosis Society; Dr. Verna Brooks-McKenzie; proprietors of Matilda's Pharmacy, Bobby Watkis and his wife, Beverly; and Dr. Miquel Garcia.