Thanks for support in time of mourning

I cannot express enough the gratitude I feel for each and every person who attended my son's celebration of life. To thank each and every one of you in person would be impossible, so I chose to do it this way and hope everyone who attended receives my message.

The loss of my son has caused a great pain in my heart, both physically and emotionally. Christopher truly was a wonderful man, and wonderful son. I need to clarify something I said when I had the opportunity to speak. When I said he was the only child I didn't give away, there was a reason for that. When I had my first two children, I was very young and ended up putting them up for adoption through family members. Though I didn't raise them, they still remained a big part of my life and I a part of theirs.

I eventually got married, and had three more children. After years of abuse during my marriage, I eventually had to separate myself from the situation. I couldn't afford to take care of four children on my own because I had been a devoted stay-at-home mom, with no job skills.

My second child's father was also the father of Christopher. Christopher was my miracle baby because I had been separated from his father for three months. I went back for a week and during that time I got pregnant with Christopher. I took care of him by myself until I met his stepfather when Christopher was 20 months old, and then again on my own from 1999.

I did a very good job raising my son, and helping him become the man he became. I am very proud of my son.

I want to let you know a few things about Christopher. He walked into the restaurant Two Guys from Italy one day and said, "hello, I'm one of the guys from Italy." Needless to say, he ended up getting a laugh and a free meal.

When Christopher worked at Smith's, I went in there one day, told one of the clerks to say over the speaker, "Christopher Medina, your mommie wants you to meet her at checkstand 9." I will never forget his face as he came around the corner smiling and laughing at me, and doing the one thing he always did. He instantly came to me, gave me a hug, a kiss on one cheek, and said, "Hello, mother."

No matter where my son was working, no matter if his friends were around, no matter what he was doing, if he saw me he always gave me a hug, a kiss on the cheek and said those precious two words, "Hello, mother." We never parted ways in 22 years without giving each other a hug, a kiss and always, always, "I love you."

When Christopher was a little boy, when he got hurt and would cry, I would kiss his boo-boos and just hold him. When Christopher got older and was hurt and would cry, I would just hold him. When Christopher was little and I would get hurt, he would kiss my boo-boos so I wouldn't cry. When Christopher got older, when I was hurt and would cry, he would just hold me.

I never doubted my son's love for me, and more importantly he never doubted mine. I have so many cards, and so many letters from him saying I was the best mom. That's what moms live for.

It doesn't matter what other people think of us. All that matters is what our child thinks of us. Everyone who knew my son knew that he really enjoyed life and wanted everyone else to.

Therefore at the time it was requested, I donated my son's skin and bone tissues. More importantly, I donated his heart valves because everyone knows Christopher had a big heart full of so, so, so much love.

I just want to say again I am so grateful for all the people who came to celebrate his life. I am so grateful for all the lives that he touched. I was truly blessed to have my son in my life, if even for a very short 22 years.

I am not the best mother that a child could have, but Christopher was one of the best children a mother could have.

Ramona Madore is a Gardnerville resident. Her son, Christopher Medina was killed in a vehicle accident on July 15.

No words I write could ever say

How sad and empty I feel today

The Angels came for you

Much sooner than I planned

I'll brave the bitter grief that comes

And I'll try my best to understand

Chris why did you have to go away

Why wasn't it right for you to stay

In my heart Chris will always be

I love him dearly and I know he'll watch over me

What I'm suffering seems so unfair

But one thing is for certain

My love for him will always be there

Chris my son you always will be

The most important part of my heart's memory

I'll cherish the moments I held you in my arms

And I'm sure that if you had stayed longer

You would have graced me with your charms

A thousand words won't bring you back

I know because I've tried

Neither will a thousand tears

I know because I've cried

Now you're up in Heaven

With the Angels up above

They will take my place for now

And they'll give you all their love

So go and rest in peace now

My little boy so dear

For all my love and memories

I will hold forever near

Ramona Madore