Ceri Walker travels across world and through time to support son

There's no limit to how far a mother will go to support her son.
Take Ceri Walker, for instance.
On Sunday at 5:30 p.m., she boarded a flight in Sydney, Australia and traveled more than 14 hours to Dallas, Texas. When she arrived in Dallas, her connecting flight was canceled and her suitcase was lost, so she waited five more hours in the airport before catching the next available flight to Denver.
She eventually arrived in Denver on Sunday at about 5:25 p.m. - five minutes before she took off from Sydney.
So not only will Ceri travel entirely across the globe to see her son, Nathan Walker, but she'll also travel through time if that's what it takes.

(Fortunately, American Airlines found her luggage).
"I'll be honest, I was a little nervous," Ceri said about traveling alone to join the Blues Moms' Trip, which will bring 21 mothers along for a road trip to Colorado and Chicago. "I'm quite confident, but this was a big thing. But Nathan wanted me to come, and that was enough for me. So here I am."
Because Nathan decided at a young age that he wanted to be a professional hockey player, the Walker family has made some tremendous sacrifices. When he was just a boy, an Australian hockey scout told Ceri that if he was serious about playing hockey, he'd have to leave Australia to do it.
"He was 13 when I took him to the Czech Republic," Ceri told stlouisblues.com. "What I did [for him to follow his dream] was so hard, and when I look back, I know it was hard for him, too. There were days when he'd ring and say 'mom, I'm so homesick.' I'd say 'OK, let's talk tomorrow and if you want to come back home, I'll book a flight. It's not an issue.' But we'd speak the next day after a good practice or a game and he'd say 'No, it's OK mom, I'll stay.' And that's the way it was."

Nathan found his way to the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms, then was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third round in 2014. After toiling in minor league hockey for five years, he eventually got his chance in the NHL, playing games with the Capitals and Edmonton Oilers in the 2017-18 season. After some more time in the AHL, Walker now seems to be sticking - making the 2022-23 Blues' Opening Night roster. He has played eight of the Blues' 13 games this season, and 51 of his 63 NHL games to date have been played while wearing the Blue Note.
So when Nathan called to ask his mom to join him for a road trip with the Blues, Ceri knew she couldn't miss it for the world.
"It's been a hard journey for him, but he survived," she said. "He may not be tall in stature, but he's big in the heart. We're so proud of him. I can't tell you how proud we are.
"And now that I've met the moms - and what superb moms - we're all on the same page, we all love it, absolutely love it. I'm excited for (this trip)."