Sheryl Lee Ralph reveals son Etienne was in scary car accident that ‘changed his brain’ and was shot three times during mugging causing her to COLLAPSE

Sheryl Lee Ralph talked about past heartache when it comes to her son Etienne.

The Abbott Elementary star, 66, shared with AARP Magazine’s August/September issue that her 31-year-old boy suffered a lot in his youth.

First he was in a car accident which caused a concussion that ‘changed his whole brain.’

Then he was shot three times during a mugging. When the star learned the news, she collapsed. 

Ralph has been in the news this month for being nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in Abbot Elementary.

Her boy: First he was in a car accident which caused a concussion that ‘changed his whole brain.’ Then he was shot three times during a mugging. When the star learned the news, she collapsed. Seen in January

In an interview the Christmas In My Heart star recalled the moment she learned her son Etienne had been in a bad car accident. 

‘When Etienne was in college, he had a car accident and suffered a concussion. It changed his whole brain,’ the Tony nominee said. 

The challenges didn’t end there.

‘Then he got mugged, and they shot him three times,’ she explained about the brutal attack.

‘He woke up in the hospital with two bullets in his leg and a wound in his forehead where a bullet had grazed him.’

Hearing the news was traumatic for the devoted mother. 

‘When I heard he’d been shot, I collapsed and dropped the phone. I didn’t even listen to the rest. But they didn’t kill him, thank God.’

The Dream Girls star shares him and younger sister, Ivy-Victoria, 28, whom the family calls Coco, with her first husband, Eric Maurice. 

Etienne recovered and has gone on to found a production company and the non-profit organization WalkGoodLA, which focuses on mental health and all around well-being.

The effort is a family affair, with Coco and cousin Marley Ralph joining the board. 

Cover model: The Abbot Elementary star is the cover model for the August/September 2023 issue of AARP Magazine 

Greatest gift: The devoted mom calls her children her ‘greatest gift.’  She shares Etienne and younger sister, Ivy-Victoria, 28, whom the family calls Coco, with her first husband, Eric Maurice  (Pictured in Beverly Hills in January)

Sheryl has called her children her ‘greatest gift.’

‘I knew I was going to be somebody’s mother,’ the Ray Donovan actress explained.

‘When I met their father, my first husband, I could see my children just as clearly as they are in life right now, and I said, “Oh, I know the assignment right here.” 

‘We got married and had our son, Etienne, and our daughter, Coco.’

Emmy: Sheryl won her first Emmy last year for her role as veteran teacher Barbara Howard on Abbot Elementary. She has been nominated for a best supporting actress award this year as well

Bi-coastal marriage: Sheryl has been married to Pennsylvania state senator Vincent Hughes, 66, for 20 years. They share a bi-coastal relationship, with Sheryl headquartered in Hollywood and the lawmaker in Philadelphia (Pictured in Philadelphia July 20)

‘The marriage lasted almost 10 years. If I had a regret in life, it would be that I didn’t have more children. But I have two beautiful children.’

Sheryl has been married to Pennsylvania state senator Vincent Hughes, 66, for 20 years.

They share a bi-coastal relationship, with Sheryl headquartered in Hollywood and the lawmaker in Philadelphia. 

She says to make that kind of separation work, ‘You have to have an incredible amount of trust in that other person.’

‘We spend a lot of time talking to each other. But if he doesn’t see me every two weeks, he gets a little nervous. I married the man who has become my best friend.’