Being a part of a community means having a safety net for when life doesn’t go as planned. Not only are we there to support our neighbors, but they’re there to help us as well.
An InspireMore reader from Indiana recently shared a heartwarming video about her daughter Terese, a devoted “football mom” who never misses her son’s games. Last December, Terese was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, which is a progressive neuro-degenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
alsa.org
While there are some treatment options available to make the symptoms more comfortable, ALS has no cure and is fatal. Even though Terese is still coming to terms with her diagnosis and grappling with the multitude of emotions that go along with receiving such news, she still manages to make time to support her son and his teammates every chance she gets.
As the football season came to a close, Terese’s team, the Riverton Parke Panthers, beat the Fountain Central Mustangs. After the final buzzer sounded and the team began to celebrate their victory, each player made a beeline towards Terese. She stood from her wheelchair and each player embraced her in a tight hug, showing their support and thanking her for always being there to cheer them on.
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“This is my daughter’s story, who was diagnosed with ALS December, 2018,” Terese’s mom told InspireMore. “ALS is a fatal neurological disease with no cure and typically death occurs within 5 years. After the varsity high school Riverton Parke Panthers won their game against the Fountain Central Mustangs, every single Panther thanked my daughter- she being one of the football Mom’s- with an awesome hug! This football Mom supports her son and the team in spite of her ALS diagnosis. And this team really appreciates the support.”
Naturally, Terese saved the biggest and tightest hug for the final player to approach her: her son.
YouTube
It’s moments like these that make us realize the importance of community. Moms like Terese make up the fabric of our society, and it’s wonderful to see teens like these showing respect and empathy for what she’s going through. We join the Riverton Parke Panthers in praying for a cure for this disease — and in thanking all the team moms out there for their tireless support.
Watch the sweet moment in the video below and share this story to spread the love a bit further.
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