Gretchen Piscotty, the mother of Oakland Athletics outfielder Stephen Piscotty, died last night, a family member told ESPN.
Piscotty’s mother was just 55 years old at the time of her death. She was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in May 2017.
Stephen played three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2015-2017 and hit 22 home runs two years ago. As the news of his mother’s deteriorating health came, St. Louis management decided to trade him to the Oakland A’s in December 2017. This allowed him to return close to home in California and care for and spend the last few months with his mother.
In an ESPN feature, Piscotty talked about caring for his mother and how the song “Amazing Grace” played a large part in that. As a a little boy, Gretchen would play the song for her son. Now, 25 years later, it was Stephen’s turn to play the song his mother loved so very much.
“We usually end (the day) playing the guitar with ‘Amazing Grace,'” Stephen Piscotty told ESPN. It was a song she used to play for him on a music box as a child. “It’s definitely emotional. Playing it is kind of a full-circle aspect going on there. It gives me some little bit of peace, and I hope it does the same for her.”
We would like to encourage you to spend a few minutes watching the full ESPN feature below. It’s a beautiful look at the precious bond between a mother and son.
"It's important to spend time with her, because we're running out of it."
Being traded from the Cardinals to the A's in 2017 meant that Stephen Piscotty could be closer to his mother who has ALS: pic.twitter.com/k7hPfpUV0H
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 6, 2018
Please join us in praying for the Piscotty family and remembering all who are battling ALS. You can join the Piscotty family in helping to raise funds and find a cure for ALS by clicking here.
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” — Psalm 34:18
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