The Suburban Newspaper for Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County
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JOU RNAL OTMJ.COM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013
VOL. 22 #3
Former Tide football star joins fight against cancer
ABOUT TOWN PAGE 3
Actor Thom Gossom Jr. returns home to headline Better Basics fundraiser
PEOPLE PAGE 8
Abby’s Road
Jann Robinson job-searhes on CBS reality show
PEOPLE PAGE 10
R.J. and Carrie Murray joined the fight against heart disease after their daughter, Abby, was born with a heart defect. Abbyʼs now an active 3-year-old, and her parents are helping raise money for the American Heart Association. From left: Carrie, Colin, Abby and R.J. Murray. Journal photo by Lee Walls Jr.
Daughter’s Illness and Recovery Inspire Couple to Support Heart Association BY KEYSHA DREXEL
Unbreak My Heart Birmingham Heart Ball March 2, 6:30-11:30 p.m. Cahaba Grand Conference Center The Heart Guild of Alabama will present “Unbreak My Heart,” the Birmingham Heart Ball, at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center on March 2. Presented by Wells Fargo, the event benefits the American Heart Association. Terry Kellogg, president and chief executive officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, will be the event’s honoree. Tickets are $350 each. Registration closes Feb. 22. For more information, visit www.heart.org/ birminghamheartball or call 510-1515.
JOURNAL EDITOR
W
hen R.J. and Carrie Murray see their 3-year-old daughter running around their Eagle Point home laughing and playing, they are reminded of how close they came to never witnessing such simple moments of joy. When Abby was born on April 22, 2009, the Murrays were not even sure she would live through her first weeks of life, much less thrive and grow into a contented child with a quick smile. “You see her now and you can never imagine what we went through when Abby was born. People tell me all the time that she’s the happiest child they’ve ever seen, and I think it’s because she had to fight for her life in the beginning and she’s just glad to be here,” Carrie said. Abby was born with pulmonary valve steno-
sis, a heart defect that causes a thickened or fused heart valve that does not open fully. The pulmonary valve allows blood to flow out of the heart, into the pulmonary artery and then to the lungs. Just after Abby was born via C-section, the doctors and nurses whisked her away from her confused parents. “I knew something was wrong, because I heard a weak little cry from her and then they took her away and I never got to hold her,” Carrie said. “She wasn’t getting enough oxygen and she was completely blue.” Abby was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit, a place R.J. said he hoped he and his wife would never have to see again. “Our first child, Colin, was born early and had to spend time in the NICU, so yes, both of my kids freaked me out when they were born,” he said. “Because of what happened with Colin, I was really looking forward to cutting the cord See ABBYʼS ROAD, page 17
Group of fathers work to strengthen bond with daughters LIFE PAGE 14
Krewe King Edgar Welden loves the sporting life
SOCIAL PAGE 18
SUE MURPHY HITS THE BARS P. 2 • ROTARY CLUB OF BIRMINGHAM MARKS CENTENNIAL P. 12 • VALENTINEʼS DAY GIFT GUIDE, DINING OPTIONS PP. 14 & 15