At a young age my sister learned to take care of herself and her three younger brothers. Many nights she would have to protect our mother from our father. At 16 she spent days at the hospital while her best friend passed away from lukemia. At age 17 she met her fiance and soon became pregnant. Four months into her pregnacy she helped our mother leave our abusive father. She than witnessed our father shoot our mother and shoot himself. Neither survived. With the death of both parents all responsibilites were placed on her shoulders. Stephanie and her fiance Stephen were homeless living out of our parents car. Stephen took over our mothers position as a janitor. Stephen would go through the fridge in the break room and feed my sister to feed their unborn child. With each obstacle life has brought her she has become one of the strongest woman I know. At age 20 our grandmother passed from lung cancer. My sister took full guardianship of our brother Joshua and myself. I was 11 years old and Joshua was fourteen. Joshua was born premature weighing only 1 pound 6 onces. Doctors said he would not make it. He is legally blind and has ADHD. Joshua graduated in 2004. My sister cried tears of joy and those of sadness that day. In those moments the pain sets in knowing our mother is forever missed.

Although the years brought much pain Stephanie has used her painfull memories as a driving force to succeed. My sister and my brother in-law went from being homeless to celebrating their one year aniversery of business.

I hope my story will win my sister a day to take a break from taking care of others. To show her that her loving and kind acts will not go unrewarded. Our mother is proud of the mother she's become.
I Just want to simply say THANK YOU Stephanie have a
Happy mothers day!

Teddy Hart