Bham Family - September 2023

Happy Fall, y’all! Just kidding—it doesn’t feel a thing like autumn outside, and in Alabama, we may as well just say it like it is: Happy Football Season!

Despite the current pigskin season we’re entering, baseball is still going strong as we head into play-offs, and it’s the perfect time to highlight one of Birmingham’s pint-size players. I’d love for you to turn to page 25 to read about six-year-old Waylon Marshall. After an accident severed fingers on his left hand, Waylon underwent major surgery at UAB, is shining during his intensive physical therapy, and back to playing baseball again. You will absolutely be inspired by his tenacity!

It’s a little early to be talking about the holiday season, I know, but the early bird gets the…front yard Christmas tree! The North Pole Trees is making this neighborhood tradition easy. Simply order, then sit back while their elves deliver mini Fraser firs to your front yard, complete with lights and, later, removal. This beloved Birmingham tradition is a fun one, and I’m excited to 1. See my own neighborhood sparkle in a few months and 2. Watch the

trees pop up in more areas of our city than ever. Check out the company’s story on page 22.

I was teasing Holy Moly Motherhood (page 10) author Alana Smith about editing her “Roll Tide” to “Go Dawgs” in this month’s column (both I and this magazine’s publisher are UGA alums and hardcore fans!). Alana was, of course, good-natured about it, and I can assure you that the column is still a fun read, no matter which side you cheer for—and you do have more than two options! (I’ve lived in Birmingham for 23 years now, and I just smile and say, “Go Dawgs!” whenever anyone says I must “pick one or the other.” Ha!)

Wishing you all crisp weather, successful sports, and—soon enough—happy holidays!

Stephanie Gibson Lepore, Content Director and Mom, stephanie@jbmcmedia.com

To view this and previous issues in a digital flip version, scan the QR code with your phone’s camera.

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Bham Family is published monthly by JBMC Media, LLC, P.O. Box 26432, Birmingham AL 35260. 10,000 copies are printed and distributed at more than 650 locations throughout Jefferson and Shelby Counties.

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Traumatic hand injury patient Waylon Marshall keeps his chin—and determination!—up as he learns to adapt to life after an accident and major surgery. The leftie-turned-right-hander is playing baseball again and inspiring everyone with his cando attitude.

Read more on page 25.

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Wrapsody

How Chamber membership works for me.

“I made a decision to invest in the Shelby County Chamber a few years ago because of the networking and business services for small businesses. As a new business owner, the Chamber was a vital part in my growth as a leader.

I felt fortunate when KATs Delivery was nominated to be Small Business of the Year in 2018 by my peers and then successful in clinching the award in 2019. I have continued to stay involved and support other small businesses as well.”

Maurice Mercer, owner, KATs Delivery (205) 624-0777 • katsdelivery.com

To learn how your business can benefit as a member, call Jordan Powell at (205) 6634542, or email jordan@shelbychamber.org.

Just for Dads

Ward Williams gives advice p. 8

Holy Moly Motherhood Football season p. 10

Sean of the South

A good dog p. 12

Education

News from local schools and college students p. 20

Nonprofit

Love Again Toys p. 14

Food Review

Cantina Tortilla Grill reopens after a four-year hiatus p. 16

Schoolhouse

Update from the Hoover School District p. 18

Kids Who Shine

Heidi’s Kids lemonade stands bring in big profit p. 30

FEATURE STORIES

Deck the Yards

The North Pole Trees delivers cheer to neighborhoods p. 22

When Life Throws a Curveball

Child’s hand injury doesn’t hold him back p. 25

Character Counts

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and its players have captivated my attention since I was a young boy. Any time the library has a magazine or book about a player, I made sure to read it quickly or check it out. There was a point when I knew where each active NBA player went to college. Out of all the NBA players I ever read about, nobody stood out as significantly as A.C. Green.

The 1980s showtime Lakers led by Magic Johnson were arguably the most popular sports team in the world and had access to every trapping known to man. There were hundreds of women waiting for an opportunity to offer companionship in each town. Drugs and alcohol were widely available, and anything else Hollywood could offer were at these mens’ beck and call. A.C. Green abstained from all alcohol, remained pure until marriage, and never missed a day of work. He set the NBA record for consecutive games played without missing at 1,192. He was a good—but not great—basketball player who made the All-Star team once in his career. In 1994, he became a free agent, and the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns both offered him contracts that made him one of the top five paid athletes in the league. He made twice what Michael Jordan was making and 50 percent more than his MVP teammate Charles Barkley. There was an absolute belief by these two teams that their ability to win an NBA championship was dependent on a good but not great player being on their team. He was the kind of man and teammate whose character created a heliotropic effect on an organization. The heliotropic effect is the tendency of living organisms, especially plants, to turn toward sunlight. A.C. Green brought life and light to an organization, and those characteristics on top of his abilities made him an elite paid professional athlete.

My wife and I have always tried to make whatever team organization we are part of better by bringing life and being a light to those

around us. We are especially proud when our kids are complimented on their character. The beginning of a new school year and the start of extracurricular activities is always a good time to set goals and aim for goals that involve character. It is easier for most, if not all, men to compliment performance, but it can be difficult to compliment character. Our schools, little leagues, cheerleading and dance teams, bands, etc. could look so different in many places if we as adults celebrated the kids who bring life and light to the team as much as we celebrate performance. I encourage you to look for opportunities to compliment character after events. The habits, morals, characteristics, and disciplines established early might stay with them for the rest of their lives and often passes down to future generations. I pray that you are such light and life and that the heliotropic effect occurs in all your relationships.

Ward Williams is the founder and executive director of Vineyard Family Services. Contact him at ward@vfsdads.com.

Ward Williams

NBA player A.C. Green

Fall is for Football

Somehow, the new school year is only a few short days away. Gosh, the summer just flies right on by, doesn’t it? It still feels like summer in this Alabama heat, but the easygoing nature of summer is coming to an end as fall and its schedules creep their way in.

I really love summertime with all of its holidays and trips and days by the pool, but fall is pretty easy to love, too, once you get into the swing of it. But, we have to get into the swing of it and that’s tough because, well, back-toschool is full of all things new. It’s hard to get into the swing of a whole new thing.

What will the teacher be like? Will they be kind and patient and encouraging? Will they be heavy on homework or more focused on working hard during the day?

Will there be friends in the classroom? Familiar faces to ease this transition into a new and more challenging grade?

What time do we need to start the day now?

A new route, bus, or new school altogether really changes the morning routine.

Pack a lunch or buy a lunch? Where to sit and what to wear?

New schedules, friends, clothes, shoes, bedtimes, and haircuts. Not only are kids embarking on a new school year, but they are likely starting the first practices of fall sports and extracurriculars, as well. New coaches, teams, practices, cleats, and plays. But, once we get past the first few weeks of August, we will ease into it. The new will become more routine. More natural. We will be able to anticipate and prepare more easily, and our days won’t feel as rushed. We will find our stride just as September and the comfort of fall begins to show itself.

Once the wind begins to cool just a tad, we will be in the swing of it. And it will feel so good.

Best of luck on a smooth and easy First Day of School!

Alana Smith is a boy mom (ages 8 and 3), nurse anesthetist, and writer in Birmingham. She shares her writing at Holy Moly Motherhood (on Facebook and Instagram), where she tackles all things motherhood and marriage.

Alana Smith

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ALANA SMITH

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Oscar

Mobile, Alabama. Morningtime. I was meeting someone important.

I pulled into the parking lot of Toomey’s Beads & Bulk Mardi Gras Supply on Macrae Avenue. Which is the kind of store you will not find in any city but Mobile.

Toomey’s is a 70,000-square-foot warehouse that represents one of the largest Mardi Gras supply inventories in the nation. Which is only fitting because Mobile is the official birthplace of American Mardi Gras.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Mobile, Alabama’s Mardi Gras bash is the oldest official Carnival celebration in the United States, started in 1703, shortly after the birth of Dick Clark.

But I wasn’t at Toomey’s to buy supplies for Fat Tuesday. I was here to meet Oscar.

At 11:30 a.m., Oscar arrived. The SUV pulled in. Oscar was accompanied by his handler, Andi.

Andi stepped out of her vehicle and opened the back door. Oscar was on a leash. His tail wagged. His entire backside was gyrating.

The easygoing bluetick hound came stepping out of the backseat. All legs.

He was your quintessential bluetick. White, with salt-and-pepper ticking. Velvet black ears long enough to qualify as safety hazards. A nose the size of a regulation tennis ball.

A collar around his neck was labeled, BLIND DOG.

“Oscar can’t see,” said his handler. “He has no eyes.”

Oscar’s face is beautiful. Classic hound. Except there are no twinkling brown eyes looking at you. They were surgically removed because of congenital glaucoma.

This is why he walks with a unique gait. He lifts his front paws carefully. Gingerly. Every move he makes is with extreme care. He uses his nose to guide himself.

I could see him taking in his surroundings, using only his sense of smell. Muzzle aimed upward

in the air. Testing each scent in the wind.

“His nose is how he sees,” said Jenn Greene, his mother and rescuer. “He can see everything with his nose.”

I squatted low. I called his name in a high-pitched voice.

I am a dog guy. My best friends have always had fleas.

Oscar followed the sound of my voice. Then he barreled into me lovingly. Head to my chest. And he smelled me, just to get a better sense of who I was.

When he determined I was okay, Oscar plopped onto the pavement to let me conduct a thorough massage of his tummy region.

Customers coming and going from Toomey’s paused to snap photographs of him. Because it’s not every day you see a dog like Oscar.

Somehow, Oscar seemed to know whenever someone was taking his photo. He would sit upright and aim his head right at the camera.

“How does he know I’m taking his picture?” asked one passerby.

“Oscar knows everything,” said Jenn.

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ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF SEAN DIETRICH

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A few years ago, Jenn adopted Oscar from the Monroe County Animal Shelter. Oscar was 11 weeks old, and in bad shape. He had been dropped off by a breeder. He had a lot of problems.

Namely, his sight was going. The surgeon tried to save his eyes to no avail. They removed Oscar’s eyes, then sewed his eyelids shut.

“It was pitiful,” said Jenn. “I remember hearing him cry in his kennel when he was recovering from surgery. His little puppy voice just howled. He didn’t understand why he had stitches in his eyes.”

Today, two red eyebrows hover on a midnight face, just above his two ocular scars. It gives his face the look of a hound who is perpetually sleeping.

“I knew I’d be taking on a dog with lots of health issues,” said Jenn. “But it’s okay, because this is my baby. He is my whole life.

“The vet gives me an automatic fifty-percent discount because we live half the year in the

waiting room.”

I petted him, and Oscar shed his silken coat all over me. I wore his hair with pride. And when he pressed his cold nose against me to “see” me better, I was honored that he would care enough about me to want to see me at all.

He ran his nose along my feet, up my thigh, around my midsection, upon my hands, my arms, and my neck.

I sat cross-legged on the pavement as he rested his nine-pound head on my shoulder. We were soon entangled in what could only be called a hug. And I found myself wishing I could be half the man Oscar is.

A woman walking into the store paused to look at Oscar. It took the woman a moment to realize that Oscar was blind. The woman seemed surprised by this.

She came in for a closer look.

“This dog has no eyes,” the woman remarked.

“He doesn’t need eyes,” Oscar’s mother said. “He sees with his heart.”

Love Again Toys This new charity gives your kids’ cast-offs new life

Q: Tell us about yourself and your family.

A: I’m Ashlee Fulmer, a physician at the Birmingham VA Medical Center, and my husband, David, works for Brasfield & Gorrie. We have two kids, ages six and four. I’ve also written two children’s books!

Q: What is Love Again Toys and what prompted you to start it?

A: The idea for this charity started when I looked around my house and noticed all the toys still in great condition that my children had outgrown or no longer play with. I didn’t want to just donate them to Goodwill, and a lot of

the wonderful Christmas charities like Toys for Tots and Christmas Village only accept new toys. I wanted a donation option where the toys went directly to the kids who needed them most and who didn’t necessarily have a lot of other toys to play with. That’s when Love Again Toys was born.

Q: What items do you accept?

A: We accept all gently used toys, clothes, books, bikes, and scooters. If you are donating a riding toy that your child has outgrown, please don’t forget to donate any helmets and

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other protective equipment that are too small for your kids, too. We are relying on donors to make good decisions about the condition of their items. That said, we want these toys to feel like a special gift for these kids. So, any beat-up, broken-down, torn-apart toys that have seen better days or were loved a little too hard by your kids may not be the best fit for Love Again Toys. Use your best judgment!

Q: How are items distributed and to whom?

A: We are partnering with a few other nonprofit organizations in the Black Belt region of Alabama, specifically in Wilcox and Lowndes counties. On our end, we will collect the toys, deliver them to our sister charities, and they will sort and distribute the items to the families most in need.

Also, we don’t want to forget the teens. They have mostly aged out of the “toy” phase, but the nonprofits in Wilcox County stressed that donations of books and clothes for teens are greatly appreciated.

Q: How can people help?

A: All donations are tax deductible. Donations can be dropped off at Canterbury United Methodist Church through September 10th; the pod will be in the Chapel parking lot, and you can visit the round circulation desk for the

lock combination and your tax donation form. We’ll have future donation opportunities each summer around the beginning of school.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

A: With the start of school and the feel of a new year upon us, I’m planning to seize this opportunity to go through all those toys my kids no longer play with, donate them to a good cause, and begin this school year with a slightly less cluttered and more organized house. I’ll leave you with a quote from the Christmas movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: “A toy is never truly happy until it is loved by a child.”

For more donation or volunteer information, email loveagaintoys@gmail.com, join their Facebook group (Love Again Toys), or follow them on Instagram @loveagaintoys.

Cantina Tortilla Grill

After an agonizing four-year break, the beloved Latin-American restaurant returns to a new location with all its old favorites.

It’s baaaack! After initially closing their former Pepper Place location with the intention of reopening shortly thereafter in a nearby spot, owners and operators Aimee and Jorge Castro ultimately decided to focus on their

sister restaurant, Sol Y Luna, for a bit instead. Of course, this left devotees of Cantina’s garlicky guacamole, fish burgers, shrimp quesadillas, and,

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PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CANTINA TORTILLA GRILL

All the beloved dishes are back at Cantina, from shrimp tacos to guacamole, corn-encrusted tilapia, and sweet potato chips.

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well, everything else in a tailspin. But, we can collectively rejoice, because Cantina is now open again, this time in a West Homewood space that formerly housed Little London Kitchen. Aimee mentions the neighborhood feel and walkable aspect as reasons the new location is perfect for the highly anticipated return of Cantina.

You’ll find tons of old favorites on the menu, including an abundance of taco options—chicken, fish, shrimp, pork, vegetarian, and (our favorite) Cuban, which includes roasted pork shoulder, pickles, cilantro mayo, and Manchego. Of course, Cantina’s signature Queso Fundido with Chorizo is back, along with homemade guac and signature sandwiches: the fish burger, Cuban, Guacho steak, and molletes. Customer faves like the Shrimp Quesadillas and Corn Tortilla Crusted Tilapia are mainstays as well. Old and new fans alike will want to add a side like sweet potato chips or garlic fries to try, too.

The new space features plenty of room for crowds to dine; a casual, handsome bar where you can enjoy one of the restaurant’s handcrafted margaritas (we suggest the prickly pear!); and soothing, abstract colors that give a laid-back, sophisticated vibe.

As the restaurant notes on its website: “Our uniquely crafted menu items follow the recipes created by our founder Guillermo Castro, whose love for travel and a passion for fresh Mexican food came together to influence every aspect of the restaurant. Whether you’re enjoying a prickly pear margarita or one of your favorite tacos, we know you’ll find a simple yet distinctive culinary experience every time you visit Cantina.” We couldn’t agree more—you should definitely visit soon!

The newly reopened Cantina Tortilla Grill is located at 162 Oxmoor Road in West Homewood. Serving lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday; Sunday brunch coming soon. For more information, visit cantinabirmingham.com.

Smiley named HCS Coordinator of Administrative Services

A former assistant principal at Hoover High School, Dr. Donna Smiley, is the District’s new coordinator of administrative services. In this role, Dr. Smiley will support instructional efforts and assist with support services for the District.

Dr. Smiley said, “I’m most looking forward to working with the District level team to continue serving the needs of the Hoover City Schools community at the highest level possible. I look forward to furthering the level of communication and responding to the needs of our students, their families, and anyone willing to support Hoover City Schools with progressive movement in a positive direction.”

Dr. Smiley’s duties include working collaboratively with Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Terry Lamar to develop goals for administrative services that support improved student learning and achievement. She serves as the central office contact for parents with questions or concerns about student discipline, school policies or procedures, or other operational matters. Dr. Smiley will also guide and assist in meeting equity initiatives based on data-driven results.

GAVEL Rankings Place Cumberland School of Law

Cumberland School of Law has been ranked 3rd in the nation in the GAVEL Rankings, a trial advocacy ranking system created by Hofstra Law School, for the 2022-2023 academic year. Additionally, Cumberland School of Law ranks 2nd in the nation overall since 2019. The GAVEL Rankings were created with three goals in mind: to recognize excellent trial competition results, to give recognition to smaller programs, and to acknowledge schools that win the toughest competitions. “Our ranking in this year’s Gavel Rankings is a reflection of both the quantity and quality of Cumberland’s successes in mock trial competitions in the 2022-2023 academic year. It is an incredible accomplishment that speaks volumes about the dedication, professionalism, and skill of our coaching staff and students,” says Assistant Professor of Law and Interim Director of Advocacy Matt Woodham.

New Hires at The Altamont School

The Altamont School welcomes new staff for the 2023-24 school year: Haley Gajewski joins the biology faculty; alumna Teal Cuellar (’98) returns to Altamont after experience that includes service as a teacher and college counselor at The American International School of Bolivia and Cochabamba Cooperative School, as Chaplain Resident for UAB Medicine, and as a legal assistant specializing in Hispanic practice; Joie Hoke, former in-house substitute teacher, moves to a new role as Front Office Administrator; David Maddox joins the geography faculty; Paige Coker comes to the school as Director of Human Resources; Kate Smith joins the school as the Middle School Assistant Guidance Counselor; and Amanda Pritchard joins the school as Executive Assistant to the Head of School and Director of Advancement.

Cravey Drafted in Sixth Round

Jacob Cravey of the Samford Baseball Team was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Jacob was taken with the 181st pick, marking the highest selection for a Bulldog pitcher in program history. He becomes the first Bulldog drafted since Samuel Strickland was taken in the 19th round by the Atlanta Braves in 2021. “I’m so happy and proud for Jacob and his entire family,” says Head Coach Tony David. “He has worked like crazy since day one here and developed into a dominant Friday-night guy under Coach Shrout.” The junior right-hander led the Bulldogs’ pitching staff in 2023 with a 9-2 record and 3.10 ERA that earned him Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and helped Samford capture both the SoCon Regular-Season and Tournament Championships for the first time in school history. Jacob, who posted a perfect 7-0 record in conference starts, led the conference and ranked ninth nationally with 126 strikeouts, the second-most strikeouts by a Samford pitcher in a season in program history. The Andalusia native finished his Bulldog career ranking third in program history with 225 career strikeouts and sixth among qualified pitchers in Bulldog Baseball history with a 3.47 career ERA. He garnered All-American honors from four different entities in 2023, earning secondteam recognition from Collegiate Baseball and third-team honors from the NCBWA, ABCA/Rawlings, and Perfect Game.

Samford Alumni, Students Participate in Leadership Institute

Samford University alumni Mei Lin Dye (’23), Andrew Mintz (’23), and Timmy Cleveland (’23), and current student Noah Letcher attended the prestigious Leadership Youth Leadership School in Washington, D.C., over the summer. The group from Samford was a part of only 300 students who were selected from applicants across the nation. At the end of the weekend, participants completed 29 hours of training that covered a variety of topics. These topics and discussions included ethics in the public policy process, political technology and leadership principles which will serve them in their future careers. “I feel like I walked away with valuable knowledge and a better understanding of how the political world works. It was definitely an added bonus to be with other Samford students,” says Mei Lin.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SAMFORD UNIVERSITY

Here Come Santa’s Elves!

The North Pole Trees delivers and sets up front yard Tannenbaums so local neighborhoods can share in this festive tradition.

BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE

8570: Rebekah Hewett, husband Hunter, Everett (6), Mary Hunt (6), and Holland (4)

2483: Adam Cowart and wife Julie, George (6), Walter (3), and Tom (2)

For Rebekah Hewett and Adam Cowart— siblings from Birmingham—Christmas started months ago. “My brother and I started The North Pole Trees this year, after talking about

different ideas for years,” says Rebekah. “We grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and have done our fair share of starting businesses on our own, so it was cool to have an opportunity to try one together.”

The North Pole Trees is Rebekah and Adam’s idea of spreading small-town-feel holiday cheer. Both of the siblings’ neighborhoods have participated in Birmingham’s front yard

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PHOTOGRAPH BY SEAN FOSTER ON UNSPLASH

Christmas tree tradition for years. You’ve likely driven through neighborhoods like Homewood and Crestline and seen mini trees—some with white lights, others with colored—dotting front yards. “We got to see firsthand all the challenges in how [the tradition] was administered,” says Rebekah. “One person let all the neighbors know about it, collected the money, and then ordered the trees from a local Christmas tree company. That one person then has to answer everyone’s questions: When are they coming? Why does my tree not look like my neighbor’s? What type of tree are we getting? etc.”

“We saw a broken delivery system, poor quality trees, and a lack of communication,” says Rebekah. The frustration with the process led the two of them to believe they could run the holiday operation more efficiently, and thus the seed was planted. “Those all seemed like relatively easy things to fix, so we set out to try!”

The siblings counted on Birmingham’s strong sense of community and saw an opportunity to build upon that foundation. “There is something special about driving home at night, down your street, when everyone has the same tree and matching lights, that makes you feel special about where you live,” says Rebekah. “Adam and I saw offering a better delivery system to areas that already did this as the obvious starting place, but our hope is to bring that same experience to new areas and spread the tradition!”

So far, the response from folks who already participate in the tradition, as well as new neighbors who want to start, has been impressive. Rebekah and Adam set a first-year goal of 2,000 trees, and they are on pace to exceed that by the time orders cut off at the end of this month. “Unfortunately, a necessary part of ensuring we get high-quality trees requires ordering early. So, our biggest challenge has been getting people to think about Christmas in the summer, because we have to cut off orders by September 30,” says Rebekah. “It is possible to get trees later in the year, but then you’re picking from what is left over and that doesn’t

mesh with our pursuit of quality.“

As part of their quest for quality, Rebekah and Adam decided early on to offer one tree option: Fraser fir. “They’re the Cadillac of Christmas trees, so if our focus was going to be on quality, there really wasn’t much of a choice,” says Rebekah. “We reached out to a ton of growers, primarily in North Carolina, looking for one that could supply all our trees and had a reputation for quality. We quickly narrowed that search to one, which is a familyrun farm that has been in business more than 50 years. They primarily sell to smaller nurseries

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF REBEKAH HEWETT Rebekah Hewett, husband Hunter, Everett (6), Mary Hunt (6), and Holland (4).

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PAGE 23

who are looking for high-quality trees. They think we’re crazy to buy their highest-grade tree and put it outside, but we can’t understand why you would want anything else sitting front and center of your yard for a month!” Rebekah notes their search for a gold-standard grower was confirmed recently when the same farm they’re using was also selected to provide the 2024 White House Christmas Tree. “If it’s good enough for the White House, surely it’s good enough for your front yard!”

Though The North Pole Trees focused solely on Birmingham and over the mountain communities this year—“we want to ensure an excellent experience for our customers as we get started”—the plan is to keep growing next year. “Our mission is to offer a high-quality tree at a reasonable price, using a delivery method that is both informative and fun to watch!” Beginning

around Thanksgiving, elves will deliver and set up this year’s orders. “We think the added element of elves is going to make it extra-special and memorable! Hopefully, kids will get to see them in action or at least catch them working on the doorbell camera!” says Rebekah.

The sibling team is looking forward to sharing the front yard tradition with their own kids. “We both have small children, which inevitably leads to driving around a lot during Christmas looking at lights. Finding a street where every house has a tree and matching lights has become somewhat of a game to them, which is a cool thing to watch. Our goal is to make the clients willing to give us a chance this year happy that they did, because the only way to spread this tradition is through word of mouth!”

When Life Throws a Curveball

Six-year-old Waylon Marshall doesn’t allow a traumatic hand injury to hold him back

BY SAVANNAH KOPLON

Most children have dreams of what they want to be when they grow up: a doctor, a teacher, a chef. For Waylon Marshall, age 6, being a baseball player has long been a goal.

That dream was shifted in November 2022 when he was in a car accident with his father and sister. In the midst of the crash, Waylon’s left hand got stuck. What happened next is still unknown to first responders and his treating

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVE WOOD/UAB PHOTO

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physicians, but Waylon’s pinky, ring, and middle fingers severed on impact, with only two fingers recovered at the scene.

Waylon was rushed to the emergency department at Children’s of Alabama, where he was met by University of Alabama at Birmingham orthopedic hand surgeon Karlee Lau Loftin, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Immediately prepped and sent into a surgery lasting more than 12 hours, Dr. Loftin and team worked diligently to provide vascular function back to his hand, while also attempting to reattach his pulled fingers.

“The trauma to his hand was so significant

and the force by which the fingers were removed was so great that we discovered successful reattachment of his fingers was not viable; being able to save function of his remaining two fingers and his hand was critical,” Dr. Loftin explains. “The complexity involved in repairing the trauma in a replantation is often microscopic, as we saw in Waylon’s case, but operating on a patient of his size increases that challenge.”

While she waited to hear status updates on her child, Waylon’s mother, Dena Marshall, could not help but think about what this accident would mean for her son’s life.

“You just wonder about all the ways this

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Waylon works hard in physical therapy to hone his motor skills after surgery.

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would impact and shape his life and, of course, how he would respond to this traumatic event—he is so young,” Dena says. “And, naturally, we thought about how this would impact his passions like his love of playing baseball. He was left-handed, and that injury was certain to impact his ability to throw and catch. We just didn’t know what this all would mean and how he would react.”

When she asked his care team when—or if—he could return to sports, Dena was met with many shared responses of the need for healing, time, and patience. What happened next, no one predicted.

HITTING RECOVERY OUT OF THE PARK

Within days, both Dr. Loftin and Dena were stunned by Waylon’s progress and resilience. As he took his injury in stride and with a maturity not found in most children, both acknowledged his fighter spirit and determination to live a fulfilled life that would not be impacted by this accident.

“I have been blown away by how Waylon has taken responsibility at such a young age for his own life. He has not pretended that this wasn’t happening to him, but rather made up his mind that this injury would not limit him,” Dr. Loftin says. “He set goals in his mind and has worked hard to meet them.”

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Waylon joined the Birmingham Barons team for a day and even threw out the first pitch.

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In just a few months’ time, Waylon’s forward-facing mindset was evident and in motion: He has already learned to catch with his new left hand and throw with his right—the opposite of how he played prior to his accident—and rivaled his tenacity on the field with his determination at regular hand therapy appointments.

“Waylon is just such a cool patient—he’s our little daredevil. He is so motivated and fiercely independent, and the entire clinic lights up when he walks in,” says Christy Mann, OTR/L, CHT, Waylon’s hand therapist. “He is so focused on using that hand and has not once ever neglected it. His fingers were super sensitive when we began, but we do specific exercises that help with texture exposure so that, when he puts his hand in the baseball glove, he has positive and normal sensations.”

Dr. Loftin notes that part of Waylon’s medical success is due in part to being cared for at a Level I trauma center like UAB’s. The extent of his injuries was so extensive and specific that being cared at a place like UAB made a critical difference.

“At UAB, we specialize in replantation and microvascular surgery just like Waylon had, and we have board-certified hand surgeons who do this day in and day out,” Dr. Loftin says. “It’s not a service that you could find everywhere in Alabama, so I feel fortunate that Waylon made it to us here at UAB for care and in a time frame that allowed us to help him.”

A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE ON DECK

In the nearly 10 months since the life-altering accident Waylon experienced, he has not only made it back to the baseball field but has made his all-star team and is playing ball without any hesitation.

“When we first entered the park after his recovery, you just wouldn’t believe what kid you were looking at,” Dena says. “Parents were in awe, kids were clapping, and we were, too. He is really a miracle.”

Recently, Waylon experienced another park day, n partnership with the Birmingham Barons, Birmingham’s minor league baseball team and Double-A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. He received the night of his life at the ballpark, celebrating his recovery by signing a one-day contract with the team, attending batting practice, throwing out the first pitch, and calling some of the game from the press box.

Hitting home runs and catching and throwing just as he did—Waylon’s story is a testament to his desire to reach his goal of one day becoming a baseball player. While that dream holds strong still, Dena noted one other goal Waylon has his sights on after his experiences with UAB and Dr. Loftin: becoming a surgeon.

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This past summer, Heidi’s Kids once again offered young entrepreneurs the chance to be “Little Hands Doing Big Things” by hosting a lemonade stand to raise money for the nonprofit, whose mission is to support and facilitate community involvement to ease the burden of those in need.

Heidi’s Kids offered 12 lemonade stand kits for the service project, and sign-up was first come, first serve. Kits included a sign, brochures explaining the mission of Heidi’s Kids, and lemonade and cups provided by Chick-fil-A Eastwood Village, who sponsored the events. Kids could choose the date and location of their stand. Heidi’s Kids posted all lemonade stand dates and details on their Facebook page to help spread the word. The purpose of the stands is to teach children the importance of giving and helping them to have fun in the process.

This year, nine families hosted lemonade stands, raising a combined total of $2,505. Harper Lepore, age 6, and her cousin Ella Kay Gibson, also age 6—who was visiting from Georgia— held the top-producing stand in Harper’s Irondale neighborhood. The girls raised $501 to contribute toward the goal of helping others in the community. The Tierney Family came in second with $420 and Caden Peppers third with $401. The other kids who raised money from their stands include Daniella-Kate, Ayala, and Ema McCarty; Harper and Mason Morrison; Seven Varnado; Gabrielle Toro, and Morgan Marimberga. The proceeds from all of the lemonade stands this year is going to help provide a wheelchair for a local girl who needs a new one.

Harper and Ella Kay loved making the lemonade for their customers and serving them with a smile, and they were also thrilled to receive donations from friends and family around Birmingham and in Georgia. “It feels good to be able to help others,” says Harper.

KIDS WHO SHINE HARPER LEPORE, 6, AND ELLA KAY GIBSON, 6

happened Her cure

Kennedi is cured of sickle cell disease thanks to a life-changing bone marrow transplant she received from her sister here at Children’s of Alabama. The amazing treatments, discoveries and innovations for pediatric blood disorders and cancer happening here are helping change lives for the children of Alabama, across the country and around the world.

ChildrensAL.org

WHAT WE DO:

Identify juveniles who are either at high risk for or already involved in substance misuse and provide them resources to make better choices for a healthy lifestyle while promoting mental wellness.

PREVENTION:

Compact’s Community Coalitions educate, engage, and empower their communities at the local level to prevent substance misuse and provide resources to those impacted.

INTERVENTION: Our Intervention Team works to educate parents and students as well as locate youth who are at risk of, or involved in substance misuse or addiction, and provide them help and resources.