Maker Of Custom Broncos Jerseys Brought To Tears Over No. 88
DENVER, Colo. (CBS4) - After years behind bars, the mother of Demaryius Thomas finally got to see her son play in person last Sunday.
Katina Smith was released from a federal prison in Florida last summer when President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 46 non-violent drug offenders. After her release from a Georgia halfway house in November, Smith had a 60-day travel restriction, so she was unable to attend any games during the regular season.
On Sunday, Smith was able to cheer on her son from the stands at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
One Denver woman put some extra sparkle into the special day.
Michelle Martinez, owner of Bellalicious Beauty, has been making custom jerseys for 10 years. She painstakingly adorns each jersey by hand with Swarovski crystals, and other special touches.
Her labor of love was no less meticulous for the jersey that Thomas asked her to make for his mom.
"As a mother, knowing that I get to watch my child play for the very first time, it just meant everything to me that he trusted me," said Martinez.
Martinez spent a month making sure Smith's jersey was perfect for game day. For the first time since her incarceration when Thomas was just 11 years old, the proud mother got to attend her son's game in person.
"I was just excited," said Demaryius Thomas in a postgame interview. "She's here for the game, and we came out with the win to make it even better."
In the stadium, Smith could be seen wearing the custom jersey made by Martinez, which reads, "Bay Bay's Mama."
"I cried making it. I cried wrapping the present. I cried watching her open it," said Martinez. "It was a very, very emotional time for me just because it meant so much to her and to him and to me to just be part of that."
Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.
