BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)- "I love my baby, I love my baby, each time I say that, I get a lot of strength from that," says Betty Sanford.

These past few days for the Sanfords have been tough, after their son, 19 -year- old Demetrius, was taken from them. But they're finding strength in the memories they share.

"I feel good that I did have 19 years of his life and it's sad, everybody liked him, so that makes me feel good."

Betty, says her son was in the prime of his life, and he had dreams of one day becoming a basketball player.

"He had a goal, his goal was still today, he liked to do what he wanted to do, play ball."

But now the Sanfords, are having to face reality, that those dreams are no more.

"That was my heart, it like took something from me," says Demetrius' father, Joseph Sanford.

"I'm going to remember my baby the way he left, the last time I saw him."

For Demetrius', family, gone too soon, but never forgotten.

"I'm just going to always love my baby, I mean I'm going to miss him, just don't know that feeling about the others, but right now, I'm still loving him, he's not gone yet, in my heart, he's not gone."