SAN ANTONIO — One of the many competitors this week for the PGA Valero Texas Open was 29-year-old Jimmy Stanger, and when he was seven years old his parents took him to China to forever change their family dynamic.
"Yeah it was a special moment for me," said Jimmy. "Going over there to China and seeing her for the first time, bring her back, and we've been close ever since," he added.
That was the family road trip that brought the Stanger family to where they are today, complete. Jimmy told us we wishes he could remember his thoughts and emotions the day they arrived abroad to bring eleven month old Theresa home. He more remembers the moment of meeting her in person for the first time.
"I was just excited because I knew I was getting a little sister," he said. "To me it would have been the same excitement as if they had told me they were having a baby."
We asked Jimmy, all these years later, how his baby sister has changed his life.
"In so many ways," he said. "She has the biggest heart of anyone I know. She just constantly loves and serves whether that is animals or other people," he added.
Theresa currently lives in Chicago and works at Wheaton College, and Jimmy told us his little sis just constantly show loves towards the campus students and staff.
"She just really cares about people and that's a trait that I've tried to take from her. I've told her so many times that I wish I had that trait that is her. She is really special."
Obviously the two siblings played lots of golf together growing up, and even studying in school they pushed each other all the time.
"She is just amazing in so many ways," he said. "I can't remember a time in my life without her."
Jimmy said it is weird trying to describe someone to other people that he's as close to as his sister.
"There aren't enough character traits to describe her," he said.
Jimmy wanted everyone to know that Theresa is his little sister just as much adopted as if she was born a biological sibling, if not even more.
"If anyone is concerned about that part of the process in that sense, that's not a concern," he said. "I get that concern, but it's nothing really to worry about. It's just been amazing to have her as my little sister, and if I could have ten more of her that would be even better," Jimmy said, smiling.