Twistzz's Mom

"Russel ("Twistzz"), my son, from the age of 5 was always interested in computers and games and wanted to do what the grown-ups were doing. His father and I played Quake for a couple years, and might I say I was pretty good at it back then! From there, Russel would start playing together with us and getting really into it and loving the fact we were doing it together as a family. Unfortunately, I stopped playing and just let the boys plays (father and son)—it was good bonding for them. As the years passed, Russel's love of playing games and being competitive grew. LANs were a monthly thing for him and his dad and was something he looked forward to. As he got older I started working more, and well, the computer become sort of like a babysitter—not something I am proud of.In 2012, his father and I went our separate ways, ending a 14 year marriage, which left Russel very heartbroken and lost. He lived with his father for a short time while I was tying to get my life in order. Eventually, later that year, he moved in with me and my boyfriend at the time where I was hoping to give him a better life. Russel never had it easy with attending school; right from elementary to the end of middle school he was continuously picked on and bullied. Every day when I would take him to school I would pray that he was going to be okay and that I wouldn't get the phone calls from the school letting me know there was an incident. So many times, I would show up and he would have dry blood on his lips from someone punching him in the face and the starting of a black eye. A parent's worst fear coming true; the fear of sending him to school everyday became very overwhelming at times.But Russel wouldn't let it get to him. He would still attend and I know deep down that he really didn't want to most days. It goes to show his strengths of being able to overcome life's struggled and not giving up. So when he became more interested in playing CS, I just let him be. He would laugh and enjoy himself and I didn't see a problem with that. He had found his place where he finally fit, a world that understood him, so to speak.When Russel was in middle school, his father moved away and he had lost the one male in his life that knew and understood him. It really hit him and made him want to hide even more. My heart broke for him. I was slowly losing my son... the only time I heard him laugh and joke was when he was playing CS. As time went by, the more he played and the better he got at it. He eventually started playing for a local team and was really getting excited to where this could take him (a world I didn't know existed).A few months into playing for his team, he got spotted up by a bigger organization, which wanted to sign him and move him to Las Vegas to live in a gaming house (?!?!). What? I was so uneducated in this world (esports) and I had a lot to learn. But as a parent, what was I to do? I wanted him to be happy and to let him grow. This was becoming a dream come true for him, any 16 year old's dream. So that's what we did; we went to Vegas together. While in Vegas, that's when I truly saw the light in his eyes again. Well, I came home leaving my son to follow his dreams. It really didn't completely sink in until I was back on the plane coming home, alone. Did I do the right thing? Will he really be okay, safe? I didn't know any of the answers, but he needed to do this in order to make himself happy again. And that's what mattered to me the most.Through this whole adventure, we have become closer, not just as mom and son but friends too. I am so proud of the man he has become, he has followed his dreams without letting life's hurdles get in the way. I am proud to call him my son and will continue to be his biggest fan and supporter. Although I haven't made it to one of his live shows yet, I try to make sure I watch every match and cheer him on as if I was right there. It really is endless, what he can accomplish when he sets his mind to it. In less than a year he is finely playing for his favorite team, the team he wanted so badly to play for. Proud Mama! 😊"