Heaven Was Needing a Hero

The first time I heard this song, I new Jodee Messina was talking about my Momma. At least in the eyes of many that knew her, especially her children. My Momma was always my hero, right up until the day she died as well as after. I could always count on her when I needed rescuing.

When I had my first car accident, she was at the hospital when I arrived and she was an hour away. She held my hand when I had to go to court for it. When my grandfather died, she had me booked on a plane to come home the next day from FL before she even told me he passed. When my car insurance dropped me, my Momma brought me the $1500 that I needed for down payment right away. When I was too nervous to tell her I was pregnant, she told me.

I can remember specific instances from when I was young too. One time, she made me a potato stamp for school and I didn't like so I left it home. When I got to school I realized it was perfect. I also remember my Momma running in the highest heels I had ever seen carrying my brother when he was like 2 or 3.

Her disease was one of the scariest things I've ever had to face, yet she was a trooper. She faced every day with strength and hope. She was a fighter all the way to the end. I guess "Heaven Was Needing a Hero". She was and alwas will be my hero.

A Tribute to Momma

My Momma died of ALS a year ago today. Her death was a horrible one. Especially her last days. ALS is disease I would not wish upon anyone. However, these are not the images or thoughts I wanted to reflect on today. Instead, I want to remember her life and the happiness she portrayed upon all that surrounded her. May she know the love she has given will never be surpassed nor forgotten as well as her memory. Missing you...

This is one of my favorite photos of my Momma
This is one of the funniest. She's trying to give my brother-in-law the finger. It was hysterical!

Alex's first B-day party

Momma and her Honey
Momma loved to go to concerts. Here she is with my sister at a Tim McGraw concert.

She also loved playing with the kids:

Here, she's giving Camryn and Evin a horsey ride.
Here, she's exercising with Alex. This was from the last Birthday she celebrated. She turned 48. We celebrated her husband, Mike and her birthday together. Longwood Gardens
One Hot MOMMA! Her wedding day
Momma and her grandbabies
Momma and her children My wedding. She walked me down the aisle. This is a photo from the cruise
At the time, Momma didn't need the wheelchair all the time but she did need some form of assistance like a walker. We spent quite a few hours in the parks at Disney so she needed the wheelchair. Here, she's taking a break from riding. My momma cracked up when Mike decided to let her push for a while.

My Momma loved Tigger

This is a video of Momma being showered with the money raised from her beef and beer fundraiser

Christmas without Momma

It was a year ago today that my Momma went into the hospital for a obstructed bowel and never came home. This is a poem my Mommom gave me I felt needed to be posted.

"My First Christmas in Heaven"

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below

with tiny lights, like heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear

for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear

but the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring

for it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart

but I am not so far away, we really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear

and be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.

I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do

for I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.

Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

ALS Walk to Defeat ALS

This years walk cotributions were very dissapointing to me. I was dissapointed in myself for starting late and having to adjust my goal downward because I was not even close to what I hoped for. I was dissapointed in my friends and family for not supporting me like they have in the past. With that said, A big hooray and thank you to those of you who donated to me. You were very generous. Hence me reaching my secondary goal. I was dissapointed in the amount of people who raised money. I was dissapointed in the couple of people who signed up who were no shows and raised a big fat $0 (I'm not talking to you Tiffany=)). Overall, I was happy with the people who attended the walk. The weather called for rain and thunder showers but we chanced it and managed not to get rained on. Here are my photos:
Our Walk team after the walk minus Aunt Lisa who had to rush home for a niece's bridal shower. Hope it was fun Aunt Lisa. You were with us in spirit.
My boy getting a ride. I don't think he walked at all. Except for the few kamikazes off while we were still moving.
These are the names of all the people we were walking for. Momma's name is on there.
My Punkin, Steffie, and Laura holding our team sign. =)
Me & My Siblings

I will definately try harder next year. I know I just have to buckle down and do it. The hardest part was reliving my story and now that's done, I won't have to do it again next year. I know my Momma would still be proud. Of me and the rest of us at the walk. She was with us in memory and spirit. Although we miss her, we must fight on so others do not suffer the way that she and my family has. If anyone is still interested in donating, it's not too late. Here's the link to my walk page just in case http://community.alsphiladelphia.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=466&frsid=1421. They will continue to accept donations until 1/31/09.

Walk for Momma

This is a photo of our walk team, Always & forever Leslie's Soldiers, from last year. I am the team captain and am having an exceptionally difficult time contributing to the walk this year. Without my Momma, my motivation and desire has severely dwindled. However, I am pressing on because this is a fight I believe in with all my heart and so does my Momma. Without experiencing it first hand, it is hard to understand.

WHY I WALK TO D'FEET ALS
My Momma, Leslie, was diagnosed with ALS July 10 2006. That is the day my life forever would change. Momma was 48 years young when she lost her battle with ALS on January 5 2008, 18 months after diagnosis and merely 2 years after the onset of her symptoms. She has 5 grandchildren that love her to pieces and 3 children who love her more. In 2006, Momma married her soul mate and love for the last 15 years. This disease took the ability to play, run, sing, dance, and do other activities from her including standing, walking, speaking, eating and ultimately breathing.

We don’t know why my Momma was afflicted by ALS. She was always a great mother, daughter, sister, wife, and grandmother. She had always done all that she could for family and friends alike. She got up every morning with a smile, knowing there may be new challenges facing her each day. My Momma required assistance in everything she did from getting dressed to going to the bathroom and brushing her teeth. She had to get a feeding tube due to the difficulty taking her medicine, because ALS affected the muscles in the back of her throat. This disease affected her brain causing her to be unable to control her emotions and comprehend things. She eventually was unable to communicate with us because we simply could not understand her or what she was trying to tell us. My Momma spent her last days uncomfortable and then incoherent in a hospital. I'll never forget the way I felt looking at her dead body or asking "Was that it?" with tears in my eyes, after her obvious last breathe. The nurse said she died peacefully but it sure didn’t feel that way to those who loved her as we watched her gasping for her last breathes. Words could never describe what we felt or saw that week or what it was like to have to make the decision not to give food or water to your mother. The horror that was felt as we watched her stare into space and wonder what her mind was thinking. The worst part was watching her weak and tired body in discomfort when the pain medication wore off. In the beginning she would just moan and her arms would flail. After a few days, she was only strong enough to barely lift her arms off the bed. I had to tell my dying mother goodbye and so did her other 30 year old daughter and 23 year old son as well as her loving husband, her parents, her only sister and 3 brothers. To think, she went into the hospital because the pain medication caused constipation and she was having severe stomach cramps after not having a bowel movement in 7 days. Yes, 7 days. 9 days later, she passed. We never thought she wouldn't be coming back home. Today, I miss her more than ever. I would have taken care of that woman for the rest of my life if God had let me. Today, Alex still asks questions about why Mommom died and it makes me sad to think that she probably won't remember a thing about her in 20 years. The following is a picture from Christmas last year. I tried to get her to smile but she was just too uncomfortable and unhappy. She never even opened her presents. Two days later, she went to the hospital. New Year's will never be the same for me. Don't let this disease keep destroying people's lives. Please help by sponsoring me!

Why We Need Your Help
Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease. ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries. We walk to support comprehensive patient service programs and leading edge ALS research. You can play an essential role by sponsoring me. Both walkers and donors directly impact the lives of those affected by ALS by providing the means to raise awareness and to offer the services needed to treat and defeat this disease.Not only do proceeds from the Walk go to services that improve the day-to-day lives of ALS patients and their loved ones (like wheelchairs, walkers, etc.), but also the money we fundraise is directed toward programs that look to the future. Promising research indicates that we are getting closer to finding treatment options and scientists are hopeful that a cure will one day be discovered. Please consider sponsoring me. With your help, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people affected by ALS. The ALS Association made a significant difference to my Momma by loaning her a wheelchair and walker. They also gave her an aide 3 days a week. Not to mention the care and support from the doctors, nurses and staff at the ALS Clinic. I encourage you to get your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers involved!

Anyone who has already donated whether it was to me or someone else, I greatly appreciate it! If you have been asked to donate to another walker, by all means donate to the other person. But please donate. Every little bit counts! Thanks so much! If you have any questions send me an e-mail.

Here is the link to my walk site. http://community.alsphiladelphia.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=466&frsid=1421
Just click on Sponsor Me to donate here. If you'd rather send me a check, send me an e-mail and I will reply with my address. I'd rather not post it. If you do not have my e-mail, click on view my complete profile under About Me to the left. Once there, click on e-mail on the left hand side under contact under my picture.