Senior's Mother Links Into Son's Ceremony From Hospital Bed

Cornelius Edison  emerged from the tunnel of his teammates and coaches, pointing to the sky.

He had done the ritual before, but on Thursday night, his final regular-season home game in a Curtis Viking uniform, it took on special meaning.

Away from Viking Stadium, away from the lights and misty night air, Cornelius' mother, Cathy, lie in a hospital bed, recovering from a temporary stroke she had suffered earlier this week.

But even a stroke couldn't stop her from watching her son take the field for his final regular-season, South Puget Sound League South game. The Friends of Curtis Football group helped organize a live video feed so she could watch the Senior Night ceremony via a laptop, and he could see her.

The announcer recognized all of the Viking seniors and their parents until only Edison remained. After he pointed to the sky, the 6-foot-4, 285-pound lineman ran to the laptop positioned on a table near the Viking sideline, looked at his mother and waved.

"Hi mom," he yelled into the screen, surrounded by family who had traveled to University Place from Wenatchee, one of whom donned a No. 73 Curtis jersey in honor of the lineman.

After the game, Edison admitted that he teared up while walking with Assistant Coach Jason Keel toward the field before kickoff, the two of them talking about his mother.

In the end, however, Edison still saw his mother, and took part in a night that he won't forget anytime soon.