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The
TowneLaker's
2004 Mother of the Year
Cheryl Stoltz
They've known us longer and better than anyone
else in our lives. They've been there through the good times and the bad,
and they've loved us through it all. They are our mothers, of course,
and every year in May, we honor them. The TowneLaker received numerous
letters describing some very special mothers and the amazing impacts they
have made in their children's lives - the decision was not easy. One letter,
however, written by Somer and Sammy Stoltz stole the Community Board's
hearts, and the honor of The TowneLaker Mother of the Year has
been bestowed on Cheryl Stoltz.
Cheryl and her husband Sam have lived in
the Wyngate neighborhood for ten years. Their family includes Vincent,
18, Somer, 13 and Sammy, 11. Cheryl is like a lot of mothers; her children
are her number one priority. Working as a substitute teacher for the Cherokee
County School District and for Home Instead Senior Care during the day,
she makes sure that she is always home by the time the girls get home
from school. Sam travels frequently for his job, and like a lot of families,
the kids have a very busy extracurricular life. Cheryl spends her afternoons
being chauffeur, homework helper and best friend to her children.
What sets Cheryl apart is that she does all
of this while battling cancer. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in
1999, and she has fought the battle of her life. Cheryl has endured lock
down radiation treatments which required her to ingest radioactive medication
and to stay in the hospital for days at a time. She would then be isolated
from her family for up to 10 days because she was radioactive. Fortunately,
that phase of her treatment recently ended in April. She still takes up
to 30 medications per day and has her good days and bad days, but its
her children and her faith in God that keeps her going. "God is blessing
me through this illness," stated Cheryl. Through her treatments, Cheryl
always ensured her family was taken care of. Through the generosity of
friends and neighbors, the children have always had a place to stay when
Cheryl was in the hospital and Sam was out of town. Cheryl would also
make meals a head of time and freeze them so her family could always have
something good to eat when she could not cook.
When asked about the lesson she has hoped
to instill in her children, she stated, "Bad things can happen, such as
illness. However, you have to go on and keep trying - no matter what."
She is most proud of the open communication she shares with all of her
children. They can talk to her about anything a teenager of today deals
with. Vincent said, "She always catches me when I fall. She's always been
there for me." Somer had similar sentiments. "She's always there to support
me and help me make the important decisions. She helps me out, no matter
what," she said. Sammy said, "She loves me and takes me everywhere. She
makes the bad stuff good."
The day Cheryl heard about her selection
as The TowneLaker Mother of the Year was also the second anniversary
of her mother's death. She was so happy to attach a new meaning to the
day.
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My mom is the
greatest because she is always there for my family. She is more special
than any other mom because she has been fighting cancer for five years.
She makes it a point to be sure our family is taken care of before she
leaves to have any cancer treatments. If she has to stay in the hospital,
she always finds a special place for us to stay. We don't have family
in the area so we are on our own. We get by on kindness from friends.
My mom's most important lesson so far in life to each of us is, we are
very special people and how much each one of us matter. She shows great
courage and strength with her cancer battle. No matter how bad the days
are for her, she makes sure we are OK. We are very close to her, she does
not get angry about any issue we come to her with. I think her being sick
has made her understand what really matters. I know that it is "US" her
family that is what matters most of all.
Samantha Stoltz, age
11
Somer Stoltz, age
13
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