Rae Carruth's Son, Chancellor Lee Adams, Turns 16 After 1999 Murder of His Mother, Cherica

It's been 16 years since Chancellor Lee Adams' mother, Cherica Adams was murdered by former Carolina Panther, Rae Carruth. Back in 1999, the nation heard the story of a baby born ten weeks early by emergency C-section after his 24-year-old mother was struck by several bullets dying in a Charlotte hospital. Now a teenager, Chancellor has overcome more milestones than most, and celebrated his 16th birthday on Monday, Nov. 16.

Despite his mother's death, her son is doing very well and is currently in high school. Chancellor's grandmother, Saundra Adams, has been there from day one after her grandson survived the shooting his own father ordered a hit man to do on his mother.

Back in 1999, Carruth was at the peak of his football career and didn't want to pay child support to a woman claiming to be pregnant with his child.

"Chancellor is not just surviving," his grandmother, Saundra Adams said giving an update on her grandson. "He is thriving."

If you've been keeping up with this story then you probably know Chancellor has special needs, and has cerebral palsy. As a premature baby, he lost a lot of blood and oxygen when his mother was shot to death. Chancellor has permanent brain damage, and uses a walker but that doesn't stop this friendly, loving and talkative teenager. He can occasionally feed himself, and dress himself with only little assistance, he grandmother noted.

"I've never treated Chancellor like he's disabled," Saundra Adams said. "I treat him like he's 'abled' differently."

Chancellor's father was a wide receiver for Carolina from 1997 to 1999, and is currently in serving time behind bars for conspiring to commit murder. Carruth didn't pull the trigger that killed Cherica; Brett Watkins was the shooter and was later sentenced to at least 40 years in prison.

Carruth will be released in 2018, and it might sound crazy but Saundra Adams hopes that Carruth will want to spend time with his son.

"The main reason I want Rae and Chancellor to one day have a relationship is because [Chancellor] is his son," Adams explained. "And that's why I chose early on that I would forgive Rae. Because I don't feel like I can offer unconditional love to Chancellor if I don't forgive Rae. That's his father. It's a part of him. Chancellor wouldn't be who he is without Rae. I want them to bond, or at least to meet again."

MStars News wants to know: Do you think Carruth and his son should get to know each other after what Carruth did to Chancellor's mother and him?