I'd be lying if I was to say this was easy to write. My Mother was born 10/23/43. I did not know her as a child or a teanager but all the stories I have heard about her were basically what I witnessed as her son. My mother did not have a high school education. She left school when she was 13 to help her mom and dad. She was one of thirteen kids. The stories I have heard about her was nothing but great. She always helped the family and never got into any trouble. She was kind to all people and helping anyone she can. I was doing work on a couples house about 4 yrs ago, and I was wearing and Alex's Lemonade/Team Theresa shirt. When a coversation started about Alex's Foundation. The next thing that happened was pretty shocking to me. The woman asked who was Theresa and of course I said, "the Best Mother in the world". She next asked my last name and I told her and she replied "I grew up with your mom". She knew my whole family. She was a very educated woman and started telling me stories about my mom. I left the job that day but always kept in touch. The woman mailed me a letter that week basically telling me everything I've witnessed over the years. Along with a $100 check stating in memory of a wonderful woman! Please donate this to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation in memory of your mom! This was a few examples of the person my mom was. When I was a kid growing up I could do no wrong in her eyes. My father left when I was about 7 my sister about 3. My mother was on welfare and would clean houses to make money. When I look back as I got older there was no person in this world that was as strong as her. I never knew that we were poor because the love that she gave me was priceless. I cant imagine how she did everything she did. She did not have a car so we would walk to the dentist to get our teeth checked. The walk was from 5th & Wolf to Broad & Morris. Now I am not saying I complained back then but when I look now I am amazed how this woman would walk anywhere for her kids. Christmas every year we were always happy she would save whatever she had to buy us toys. As I got old , no matter how old I was she would always get me something. I would tell her every year, "Mom, dont get me anything I am fine, I am not a kid anymore." her reply was always the same "you'll always be my baby". Another example of what I am saying my mother never remarried or go on dates. I use to say go out and find a good guy, her reply would be "Albert I got all I want you and your sister I am fine". She would always sit in the house and watch the religious channel and cook dinner every night. I never remember ordering out when I was a kid. She always did everything for me. She would walk me to Front & Moore when I was 12 yrs old to play baseball at EOM. She would always be on the sideline cheering me on. She was my #1 fan! I am still amazed at the sacrifices she made to put me in baseball. Now the hard part. On September 6, 2011 I will have 20 years sober. When I turned about 16 years old I started to get into some trouble. I would numb my pain by drinking. The area we grew up in wasnt the best, alot of drugs and gangs, which no matter how many times your mom tells you, dont go near thoses people stay away, you dont listen and look at it like it is great. I became an alcoholic, started drinking alot. My mom never gave up on me. She stuck by my side and in 1991 I made a promise to God that I will God Willing never let her see me like that again. I praise her so much, she is an always will be my inspiration. As I got sober, I started to think of all the things this woman would do for people. If the gas man was working on a pipe down the street she would bring them coffee. If a neighbor needed their pavement shoveled from the snow, my mom was out there. By the way, she was only 5'5" maybe 110lbs. She would always feed any soul that would knock on the door. No matter how poor we were she would always give first. She always took in any child that needed guidance. Alot of my friends called her MOM! When me and my friends would come in from the clubs it could be 2am, it didnt matter she would be waiting to call their parents and tell them they are alright and then would cook us something to eat. She was as precious as the sky on a sunny day. She would light up the room with her smile and laughter. We use to go to St. Vincent's home for foster children and save up our money and buy toys for the kids and throw Christmas parties for them. Here is another example of the kind of love people had for my mother. When I met the woman who I married. I knew she was the one. My Mother and my wife were like mother and daughter. My wife loved her and she loved my wife. When I was about 6 months into our relationship, my girlfriend at the time who is now my wife was thrown out by her parents. Her parents have their own problems thats another story. My mother of course the woman she is said "do you love this girl" and I said "yes" and she said "well then she is going to live with us". This girl is a sweetheart there is no reason for what they did. My mother and my now wife's bond grew so strong. When I bought my first house we told my mom to come and live with us, she said "Albert I love you guys but I am fine". She was healthy at that time. That was always my dream to take care of her, let her live with us and not have to do anything. I have been with my wife now 16 years, married 10. I got married on April 28, 2001 and on that day dancing with my mom on the Mother & Son dance, I made the DJ play a song for us. It wasnt your average mom & son song, it was "One Moment in Time" by Whitney Houston. The reason for that song is because the day I got sober that song was playing and I said "Mom you will never see me with a drink again or act in a negative way" and of course her response loving me like she did was "that wasnt you that made you act out it was the alcohol". But on that day as we were dancing she started crying and said to me "Albert, I am sick". My response at the time was "Mom you'll always be my #1 girl, I will never leave the city and not talk to you every day. You are my world!" And she smiled and didnt say anything. When I look back at those wedding pictures I see now what she meant. I definately did not see it then. Probably because I never wanted my mother to be sick. It was the biggest fear of my life. She was and still is everything to me. A few months later she was starting to get dizzy. She went for a biopsy in October 2001. They told me she would be in and out, 45 minutes the most. My mother really never had any problems. The only thing she really had done was getting stones removed. I always was with her, whenever she went to hospital. So I knew what she looked like everytime she came out of operating room. The 2 worst days of my life, one was the day she went in for a 45 min. operation and came out she did not look right to me. I told the doctor something was wrong, they told me it was the anesthesia. I said no its not, I know my mom. Within the next 5 mins. they rushed her back. Her brain was bleeding. So from 45 mins it went to 2 months in the hospital. My mom took a stroke, she was put in ICU. She now became paralyzed on the left side, had a feeding tube and a trach. And I also found out she had cancer. My life has changed forever. They told me she probably wont make it. I dont rememebr much after that. But I kept thinking what am I going to do without the woman I admire, look up to, is my hero and is my whole world. I never left her side for the next 2 months. Somehow she pulled through. Yes she was paralyzed on her left side and needed to be fed but her strength did not stop her. This is very hard to explain but I must do so. My mother could not talk when she woke up but the kind of person she was says it all. I gave her pen and paper the first thing she wrote was "Albert make sure you take care of all the people who are taking care of me". I still cry when I think of that. The nurses and the doctors loved her. I made sure I brought up donuts and pretzels everyday. The doctors used to say Theresa are you a star I never seen so many people come up and visit someone before. Its amazing. My mom was released December 12, 2001. She moved in with me and my wife. After she left hospital, again the type of person that she was, said to me we have to buy all the doctors and nurses gifts for Christmas. And a few days later I wheeled her in the hospital to give each person a gift. Back to my wife, right before my mom was released, my wife learned to do all the things the nurses were doing and my wife came to me and said "Albert I dont want you to get mad but I am quitting my job to take care of your mom. I love her like she is my mom." I cried because not only did she adore my wife, my wife adored her. For the next year and a half even though she was sick she lived the life I wish she would have lived healthy. We took her everwhere. She was so strong, I cant explain how she still cared about everyone else. She never let her sickness erase her smile. The other day I will never forget, my mother passed away on March 2, 2003. I dont remember much on the day of the funeral. I am crying now as I write this. I couldnt tell you who was there or what the priest said. I held my ears the whole time. I could not hear them say she was gone. The only 2 things I remember as I look back now, knowing God wanted me to remember is this, the first thing the only people I remember was the doctor and nurses a year and a half later at the funeral, I think the Lord wanted me to see how important she was even to people who only knew her for 2 months and the second thing I remember was walking to the back of the funeral parlor to get air with my wife by my side. I didnt do much talking to anyone but at this moment a gentleman came near with prayer cards and I dont know what made me finally speak but I politely asked why are you near the prayer cards and he turned around and said "Albert there were 750 prayer cards and I am going to have to get more". Thats all I really remember that day. After a couple of days later, I could not believe what he had said or should I say, I should believe what he had said. It shows me how much this woman was loved, my hero, my inspiration, my wolrd, MY MOM! I was suppose to write a bio, a short description of my mom, how could I, this woman is a saint in my eyes. I could write a book about all the things she did in her lifetime. The last example of what kind of person she was is simple. On September 17, 2011 we are holding our 9th Anuual softball benefit in memory of Theresa, my mother. Who through friends and family coming out over the years to show how much she is loved and missed has helped raise a good amount of money for Alex's Lemonade Stand. She loved her children, all children, all people. She will always be my shining light to do whatever I can do for these kids. She is my hero and I would not be the man I am today without her guiding me. She whispers in my ear every night and says "Albert, I wouldnt want it any other way"! I love and miss you Mom, forever & ever, Your son, Albert!