"The doctors say that my condition has stabilized," she said. "It's not getting worse and it's not getting better. But they can't guarantee it will stay this way. At any moment it could collapse, they warned me. But it's like I tell everyone. God has pressed the Pause button. Nothing bad is going to happen. I'm going to be fine. I have my faith."

"That's great, Momma," Martin said, knowing he didn't share her confidence.

"That's right, my baby boy. I have enough for both of us."

And as Martin thought about their conversation, he just smiled. She always told Martin that he was her heart and that she loved him more than life itself. She picked him up when he fell down. She encouraged him when he failed. She gave him the strength and the confidence to go for his dream. When others said he couldn't do it, she told him he could. When his father died, she became both his mother and father. She worked hard, went to church, took care of her family, and never missed a football game in high school or college. She was the loudest fan in the stadium, and he always heard her cheers. Martin realized that he wasn't her heart. She was his. She was his source of strength. And now that source of strength was sick and in need of help. The one who was always there for him now needed him. The one he always turned to couldn't help. Martin wanted desperately to be able to help save her, but unfortunately the situation was beyond his control, and it drove him crazy. The only thing he could do was try to get healthy and get back on the football field.