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Sunday, October 31, 2010 The Birmingham News j 11A FROM PAGE ONE LILY: Learning to smile again From Page 10A W Wh hi ic ch h o on ne e i is s w wh hi ic ch h? ?S Sh he e w wa as s l l i i k ke e, , H Hi i , , I I m m L Li il ly y. . W We er re e g go oi in ng g t to o b be e g gr re ea at t f f r r i i e en nd ds s , , S Sa ar r a ah h r r e em me em m- - b be er rs s. . A An nd d t th ha at t h ha ap pp pe en ne ed d. .L Li il ly y a an nd d h he er r f fr ri ie en nd ds s w wo ou ul ld d g ge et t t to og ge et th he er r i in n a an n u up ps st ta ai ir rs s r ro oo om m a at t h he er r h ho ou us se e o on n C Ca an n- - t te er rb bu ur ry y R Ro oa ad d t to o p pl la ay y c ca ar rd ds s, , w wa at tc ch h m mo ov vi ie es s a an nd d j ju us st t h ha an ng g o ou ut t. . T Tu ur rn ns s o ou ut t, , s sh he e w wa as s q qu ui it te e t th he e c ca ar rd d s sh ha ar rk k, , a an nd d o on nc ce e, , o on n a a r ra af ft ti in ng g t tr ri ip p t to o t th he e N Na an nt ta a- - h ha al la a N Na at ti io on na al l F Fo or re es st t, , L Li il ly y t to oo ok k h he er r c cl la as ss sm ma at te es s t to o t th he e c cl le ea an ne er rs s. . O On ne e n ni i g g h ht t , , t t h he e e en nt t i i r r e e n ni in nt th h g gr ra ad de e p pl la ay ye ed d p po ok ke er r, ,h he er r f fr ri ie en nd d S Sa ar ra ah h s sa ay ys s. . L Li il ly y w wa as s l li ik ke e, , I Im m n no ot t r re ea al ll ly y g go oo od d a at t p po ok ke er r. .T Th he en n s sh he e b be ea at t e ev v- - e er ry yo on ne e. .L Li il ly y m ma ad de e t th he e A Al lt ta am mo on nt t g gi ir rl ls s s so oc cc ce er r t te ea am m h he er r f fr re es sh h- - m ma an n y ye ea ar r, , a an nd d f fo or r a a s sh ho or rt t w wh hi il le e, , s sh he e g go ot t t to o p pl la ay y a al lo on ng g- - s si id de e h he er r o ol ld de er r s si is st te er r, , a a s se en ni io or r m mi id df fi ie el ld de er r w wh ho o a al ls so o w wa as s a a t te ea am m c ca ap pt ta ai in n. . T Th he ey y l lo oo ok ke ed d s so o s si im mi il la ar r b be ec ca au us se e t th he ey y b bo ot th h h ha ad d a al ll l t th hi is s h ha ai ir r, ,C Ce ec ce e P Pl le es ss s s sa ay ys s. . W Wh he en n t th he ey y w we er r e e o on n t th he e f fi ie el ld d, , i it t w wa as s l li ik ke e, , w wh hi ic ch h o on ne e i is s w wh hi ic ch h? ?D D u u r r i i n n g g s s p p r r i i n n g g b b r r e e a a k k , , t th ho ou ug gh h, , L Li il ly y s st ta ar rt te ed d h ha av vi in ng g s se ev ve er r e e h he ea ad da ac ch he es s , , w wh hi i c ch h c ca am me e a an nd d w we en nt t w wi it th ho ou ut t e ex x- - p pl la an na at ti io on n. . H He er r m mo os st t r re ec ce en nt t M MR R I I h h a a d d n n t t s s h h o o w w n n a a n n y y c ch ha an ng ge e i in n h he er r t tu um mo or r. . T Th he en n, , i in n t th he e s se ec co on nd d h ha al lf f o of f a a t ti ie e g ga am me e w wi it th h B Br ri ia ar r- - w wo o o od d C Ch hr r i i s s t t i i a an n a at t A A l l t t a a - - m mo on nt ts s C Co om me er r F Fi i e el l d d, , L Li i l l y y p pu ul l l l e ed d u up p a as s s sh he e r ra an n b by y C Co oa ac ch h G Gi ib bs so on n o on n t th he e n ne ea ar r s si id de el li in ne e, , p pu ut t h he er r h he ea ad d i in n h he er r h h a a n n d d s s a a n n d d f f e e l l l l t t o o t t h h e e g gr ro ou un nd d. . E Ev ve er ry yt th hi in ng g s st to op pp pe ed d, , i in n- - c c l l u ud di i n ng g t t h he e s s o of f t t b ba al l l l a an nd d b ba as se eb ba al ll l g ga am me es s o on n t th he e a ad dj ja a- - c ce en nt t f fi ie el ld ds s. . W Wh h i i l l e e a a n n a a m m b b u u l l a a n n c c e e r ru us sh he ed d L Li il ly y t to o t th he e h ho os sp pi it ta al l, , t th he e A Al lt ta am mo on nt t g gi ir rl ls s a an nd d t th he e B Br ri ia ar rw wo oo od d g gi ir rl ls s h hu ud dd dl le ed d i in n t th he e m mi id dd dl le e o of f t th he e f fi ie el ld d a an nd d s sa ai id d a a p pr ra ay ye er r f fo or r L Li il ly y. . I It t w wa as s j ju us st t l li ik ke e e ev ve er ry yb bo od dy y w wa as s t ta al l k ki i n ng g a ab bo ou ut t h ho ow w i i t t w wa as s g go oi in ng g t to o b be e a al ll l r ri ig gh ht t, , ( (t th ha at t) ) t th he ey y w we er re e a al ll l t th he er re e f fo or r e ea ac ch h o ot th he er r, ,C Ce ec ce e P Pl le es ss s r re e- - c ca al ll ls s. . I It t w wa as s k ki in nd d o of f a a c co om m- - f fo or rt ti in ng g t th hi in ng g. .O On n h he er r 1 15 5t th h b bi ir rt th hd da ay y, , L Li il ly y l la ay y a a c co om ma a i in n t th he e p pe ed di ia at tr ri ic c i in nt te en ns si iv ve e c ca ar re e u un ni it t a at t C Ch hi il ld d- - r re en ns s H Ho os sp pi it ta al l. . H He er r m mo ot th he er r p pl la ay ye ed d m mu us si ic c f fr ro om m L Li i l l y ys s i i P Po od d, , b br ro ou ug gh ht t h he er r f fa av vo or ri it te e s so of ft t b bl la an nk ke et t a an nd d s sp pr ra ay ye ed d h he er r p pe er rf fu um me e i in n t th he e r ro oo om m i in n h ho op pe es s o of f s st ti im mu ul la at t- - i in ng g h he er r s se en ns se es s. . V Vi ir rg gi in ni ia a a an nd d I I w wo ou ul ld d t tr ry y t to o f fi ix x h he er r h ha ai ir r, , a an nd d b bo oy y, , s sh he e w wo ou ul ld d r re es sp po on nd d t to o t th ha at t, ,h he er r m mo ot th he er r s sa ay ys s. . S Sh he e d di id d n no ot t l li ik ke e a an ny yo on ne e p pu ul ll li in ng g o on n h he er r h ha ai ir r. .T Th he en n o on ne e d da ay y, , a a n nu ur rs se e t ta ap pp pe ed d G Ga ai il l R Ru us sh ht to on n o on n t th he e s sh ho ou ul l d de er r a an nd d p po oi i n nt t e ed d t to o L Li il ly y, , w wh ho o h ha ad d o op pe en ne ed d h he er r r ri ig gh ht t e ey ye e. . A Af ft te er r s sh he e c ca am me e o ou ut t o of f h he er r c co om ma a a an nd d w we en nt t h ho om me e f fr ro om m t th he e h ho os s p pi i t ta al l , , L Li i l l y y w wa al l k ke ed d w wi it th h a a n no ot ti ic ce ea ab bl le e l li im mp p. . H He er r l l e e f f t t e e y y e e l l i i d d , , w w h h i i c c h h h h a a d d d dr ro oo op pe ed d b be ef fo or re e, , w wa as s c cl lo os se ed d c co om mp pl le et te el ly y. . S Sh he e h ha ad d t to o l le ea ar rn n t to o w wr ri it te e a an nd d e ea at t w wi it th h h he er r l le ef ft t h ha an nd d. . S Sh he e a al ls so o h ha ad d t to o t te ea ac ch h h he er r- - s se el lf f h ho ow w t to o s sm mi il le e a ag ga ai in n. . W We e d di id dn nt t k kn no ow w t th hi is s ( (a at t f fi ir rs st t) ), ,h he er r m mo ot th he er r s sa ay ys s, , b bu ut t w wh he en n s s h he e p po os s e ed d f f o or r p pi i c c- - t tu ur re es s, , s sh he e h ha ad d a ap pp pa ar re en nt tl ly y k ki i n nd d o of f f f o or rg go ot tt te en n h ho ow w t to o s sm mi il le e. .S St ti il ll l j ju us st t a as s s sa as ss sy yA Af ft te er r L Li i l l y y g go ot t b ba ac ck k t to o s sc ch ho oo ol l t th ha at t f f a al l l l , , s s h he e j j u us st t w wa an nt te ed d t to o b be e l l i i k ke e a al l l l t th he e o ot th he er r g gi ir rl ls s. . W Wa al lk ki in ng g t th he e h ha al ll ls s b be et tw we ee en n c cl la as ss se es s, , s sh he e t to ol ld d h he er r c cl la as ss s- - m ma at te es s n no ot t t to o s sl lo ow w d do ow wn n t to o w wa ai it t o on n h he er r. . A An nd d s sh he e w wa as s d de e- - t te er rm mi in ne ed d t to o t ta ak ke e t th he e s st ta ai ir rs s, , u un nt ti il l a a s sc ch ho oo ol l a ad dm mi in ni is st tr ra at to or r t to ol ld d h he er r t to o s st ta ar rt t u us si in ng g t th he e e el l- - e ev va at to or r f fo or r h he er r o ow wn n s sa af fe et ty y. . P Ph hy ys si ic ca al ll ly y, , s sh he e w wa as s d di if f- - f fe er re en nt t, , b bu ut t p pe er rs so on na al li it ty y- -w wi is se e s sh he e w wa as s e ex xa ac ct tl ly y t th he e s sa am me e, ,a an no ot t h he er r c c l l a as s s s m ma at t e e, , J J u ul l i i a a M Mu ur rr ra ay y, , s sa ay ys s. . S Sh he e w wa as s s st ti il ll l j ju us st t a as s s sa as ss sy y a an nd d f fu un nn ny y a as s b be ef fo or re e. .W Wh he en n a an no ot th he er r s so oc cc ce er r s se ea a- - s so on n c ca am me e a ar ro ou un nd d t th ha at t f fo ol l- - l lo ow wi in ng g s sp pr ri in ng g, , L Li il ly y w we en nt t t to o m mo os st t o of f h he er r t te ea am ms s p pr ra ac ct ti ic ce es s a an nd d d dr r e es s s s e ed d o ou ut t f f o or r t t h he e g ga am me es s. . S Si in nc ce e s sh he e c co ou ul ld dn nt t p pl la ay y, , t t h h o o u u g g h h , , s s h h e e s s a a t t o o n n t t h h e e b b e e n n c c h h h h e e l l p p i i n n g g h h e e r r n n e e w w c c o oa ac c h h, , M Ma at t t t K Ki i r r k kp pa at t r r i i c c k k, , w wh ho o t to oo ok k o ov ve er r a as s t th he e g gi ir rl ls s c co oa ac ch h w wh he en n G Gi ib bs so on n s st ta ar rt te ed d c co oa ac ch hi in ng g t th he e b bo oy ys s, , k ke ee ep p t th he e g ga am me e s st ta at ts s. . S Sh he e w wa as s k ki in nd d o of f l li ik ke e m my y a as ss si is st ta an nt t c co oa ac ch h, , h he el lp pi in ng g m me e k ke ee ep p t tr ra ac ck k o of f e ev ve er ry yt th hi in ng g, ,K Ki ir rk kp pa at tr ri ic ck k s sa ay ys s. . S Sh he e w wa as s a as s m mu uc ch h a a p pa ar rt t o of f t th he e t te ea am m a as s a an ny yb bo od dy y e el ls se e. .L Li il ly y j ju us st t t to oo ok k i it tF Fr ro om m t th he e t ti im me e t th he e t tu um mo or r f fi ir rs st t i in nv va ad de ed d L Li il ly ys s b br ra ai in n i in n 2 20 00 02 2, , R Re ed dd dy y, , h he er r n ne eu ur ro o- -o on n- - c co ol lo og gi is st t, , h ha ad d t to ol ld d L Li il ly y a an nd d h he er r p pa ar re en nt ts s t th ha at t c ca an nc ce er r w wa as s a a j jo ou ur rn ne ey y, , a an nd d s so om me et ti im me es s t th ha at t j jo ou ur rn ne ey y c ca an n t ta ak ke e a an n u un n- - e ex xp pe ec ct te ed d t tu ur rn n. . F Fo or r a a g go oo od d p pa ar rt t o of f t th ha at t j jo ou ur rn ne ey y, , L Li il ly y g go ot t t to o b be e a a t ty yp p- - i ic ca al l t te ee en na ag ge er r. . A An nd d u un nt ti il l t th he e l la as st t y ye ea ar r a an nd d a a h ha al lf f, , R Re ed dd dy y, , w wh ho os se e s so on n p pl l a ay ye ed d s so oc cc ce er r w wi i t t h h L L i i l l y y s s b b r r o o t t h h e e r r , , s s a a w w m mo or re e o of f h he er r p pa at ti ie en nt t a at t t th he e s so oc cc ce er r f fi ie el ld d t th ha an n s sh he e d di id d a at t t th he e c cl li in ni ic c. . L Li il ly y d di id d v ve er ry y, , v ve er ry y w we el ll l f fo or r s si ix x y ye ea ar rs s, ,R Re ed dd dy y s sa ay ys s. . I I w wo ou ul ld d s so om me et ti im me es s s se ee e h he er r a at t s so oc cc ce er r, , a an nd d s sh he e w wa as s a al lw wa ay ys s l li ik ke e, , H He ey y, , D Dr r. . R Re ed dd dy y. .S Sh he e w wa as s a a v ve er ry y s sw we ee et t, , v ve er ry y p po o- - l li it te e, , v ve er ry y h ha ap pp py y c ch hi il ld d. .T Th he en n l la as st t O Oc ct to ob be er r, , R Re ed dd dy y h ha ad d t to o t te el ll l L Li il ly y t th ha at t h he er r j jo ou ur r- - n ne ey y h ha ad d t ta ak ke en n a an no ot th he er r b ba ad d t tu ur rn n, , a an nd d i it t w wa as s c co om mi in ng g t to o a an n e en nd d. . L Li i l l y y j j u us s t t t to oo ok k i i t t, , h he er r m mo ot th he er r r re em me em mb be er rs s. . I I r re e- - m me em mb be er r h ha av vi i n ng g t to o m ma ak ke e s su ur re e t th ha at t L Li il ly y u un nd de er rs st to oo od d w wh ha at t A Al ly ys ss sa a s sa ai id d, , a an nd d s sh he e d di id d. .O On n t th he e f fi ir rs st t d da ay y o of f N No o- - v ve em mb be er r, , a a S Su un nd da ay y m mo or rn ni in ng g, , t th he e w wh ho ol le e R Ru us sh ht to on n f fa am mi il ly y D De ea ak k, , G Ga ai i l l , , V Vi i r r g g i i n ni i a a a an nd d F Fo or rd d g ga at th he er re ed d i in n L Li il ly ys s b be ed dr ro oo om m t to o s sa ay y t th he ei ir r g go oo od d- - b by ye es s. . T Th he e f fi iv ve e o of f u us s w we er re e t to o- - g ge et th he er r i in n L Li il ly ys s r ro oo om m, , j ju us st t h ho ol ld di in ng g h he er r h ha an nd d a an nd d t te el ll li in ng g h he er r h ho ow w m mu uc ch h w we e l lo ov ve e h he er r, ,h he er r m mo om m r re em me em mb be er rs s. . T Th he e j jo ou ur rn ne ey y e en nd de ed d o on n A Al ll l S Sa ai in nt ts sD Da ay y. . T Th hi is s i is s h he er r g ga am me eT Th hi is s p pa as st t s se ea as so on n, , L Li il ly ys s o ol ld d t te ea am mm ma at te es s w wo or re e b bl la ac ck k a ar rm m b ba an nd ds s i im mp pr ri in nt te ed d w wi it th h L LP PR R # #6 6, ,a an nd d o on n a a c ch hi il ll ly y n ni ig gh ht t i in n M Ma ar rc ch h, , o on n t th he e s sa am me e f fi ie el ld d w wh he er re e L Li il ly y c co ol ll la ap ps se ed d a al l- - m mo os st t t tw wo o y ye ea ar rs s e ea ar rl li ie er r, , T Th he e A Al lt ta am mo on nt t S Sc ch ho oo ol l r re en na am me ed d C Co om me er r F Fi ie el ld d a an nd d d de ed di ic ca at te ed d i it t L Li il ly y F Fi ie el ld d. . T Th he e A Al lt ta am mo on nt t g gi ir rl ls s w we er re e p pl l a ay y i i n ng g t t h he ei i r r a ar r c c h h- - r r i i v va al l s s f fr ro om m I In nd di ia an n S Sp pr ri in ng gs s S Sc ch ho oo ol l t t h ha at t n ni i g g h ht t , , a an nd d A Ad dd di i s s o on n P P o o w w e e l l l l , , t t h h e e v v o o c c a a l l t t e e a a m m l le ea ad de er r, , r re em mi in nd de ed d t th he em m t th he ey y b be et tt te er r n no ot t l le et t L Li il ly y d do ow wn n. . W We e h ha ad d a a b ba ad d f fi ir rs st t h ha al lf f, ,C Ce ec ce e P Pl le es ss s r re ec ca al ll ls s. . A Ad dd di is so on n P Po ow we el ll l, , s sh he e a al lw wa ay ys s h ha as s h he er r h he e a a r r t t c c o o m mp p l l e e t t e e l l y y i i n n t t h h e e g ga am me e, , a an nd d s sh he e w wa as s l li ik ke e, , Y Yo ou u g gu uy ys s, , t th hi is s g ga am me e i is s m mo or re e i im m- - p po or r t t a an nt t t t h ha an n a an ny y o of f t t h he e o ot th he er r o on ne es s. . W We e h ha av ve e t to o w wi in n t th hi is s o on ne e f fo or r L Li il ly y. . T Th hi is s i is s h he er r g ga am me e. . T Th hi is s i is s h he er r f fi ie el ld d. .W Wi i t t h h t t w w o o g g o o a a l l s s f f r r o o m m s so op ph ho om mo or re e f fo or rw wa ar rd d K Ka ar rm me en n G Ga ai in ne es s o on ne e o on n a an n a as ss si is st t f fr ro om m A Ad dd di is so on n P Po ow we el ll l t th he e A A l l t t a a m mo o n nt t g g i i r r l l s s s s h h u ut t o o u u t t S Sp pr ri in ng gs s 2 2- -0 0. . L Le et ts s r re em me em mb be er r L Li il ly yA A c co ou up pl le e o of f m mo on nt th hs s a ag go o, , K Ki ir rk kp pa at tr ri ic ck k, , t th he e n ne ew w g gi ir rl l s s c c o oa a c c h h a at t A A l l t t a a m mo o n nt t , , w wa as s w wa at tc ch hi in ng g t th he e m mo ov vi ie e L Le et tt te er rs s t t o o G G o o d d , , a a b b o o u u t t a a n n 8 8- -y ye ea ar r- -o ol ld d b bo oy y w wi it th h a a b br ra ai in n t tu um mo or r w wh ho os se e l le et tt te er rs s t to o G Go od d h ha av ve e a a r re es si id du ua al l h he ea al li in ng g e ef f- - f fe ec ct t o on n t th he e p pe eo op pl le e a ar ro ou un nd d h hi im m. . I In n t th he e b bo oy ys s m me em mo or ry y, , t th he e t to ow wn ns sp pe eo op pl le e p pu ut t u up p a a m ma ai il l- - b bo ox x i in n t th he e m mi id dd dl le e o of f t to ow wn n s so o t th ha at t o ot th he er rs s m ma ay y w wr ri it te e t th he ei ir r o ow wn n l le et tt te er rs s t to o G Go od d. . A As s h he e w wa at tc ch he ed d i it t, , K Ki ir rk kp pa a- - t tr ri ic ck k c co ou ul ld dn nt t h he el lp p b bu ut t t th hi in nk k o of f L Li il ly y, , a an nd d i it t g ga av ve e h hi im m a an n i id de ea a. . I I d do on nt t k kn no ow w i if f G Go od d t to ol ld d m me e o or r L Li il ly y o or r w wh ha at t, ,K Ki ir rk kp pa a- - t tr ri ic ck k s sa ay ys s. . B Bu ut t s so oc cc ce er r g go ol lf f w wa as s s so om me et th hi in ng g t th ha at t h he el lp pe ed d L Li il ly y a an nd d m mi ig gh ht t b be e a ab bl le e t to o h he el lp p s so om me e o ot th he er r k ki id ds s i in n h he er r s si it tu ua at ti io on n, , a an nd d i it t c ce er rt ta ai in nl ly y w wo ou ul ld d b be e a a g gr re ea at t w wa ay y t to o r re e- - m me e m mb b e e r r h h e e r r a a n n d d h h o o n n o o r r h he er r. .T Th he e n ne ex xt t d da ay y, , K Ki ir rk kp pa at tr ri ic ck k c ca al ll le ed d S Se ea an n G Gi ib bs so on n L Li il ly ys s s so oc cc ce er r- -g go ol lf f b bu ud dd dy y G Gi ib bb bo ot to o r ru un n i it t p pa as st t h hi im m. . G Gi ib bs so on n c ca al ll le ed d t th he e R Ru us sh ht to on ns s a an nd d g go ot t t th he ei ir r b bl le es ss si in ng gs s. . S So o t th hi is s a af ft te er rn no oo on n a at t L Li il ly y F Fi ie el ld d, , C Ch hi il ld dr re en ns s H Ho os sp pi it ta al l a an nd d t th he e A Al lt ta am mo on nt t C Cl la as ss s o of f 2 20 01 11 1, , L Li il ly ys s c cl la as ss s, , a ar re e t te ea a- - m mi in ng g u up p t to o p pu ut t o on n t th he e f fi ir rs st t L Li il ly ys s F Fi ir rs st t A An nn nu ua al l S So oc cc ce er r- - G Go ol lf f T To ou ur rn na am me en nt t. . G Gi i b bs so on n a an nd d K Ki i r rk kp pa at tr ri i c ck k h ha av ve e l la ai id d o ou ut t a a n ni in ne e- -h ho ol l e e c co ou ur rs s e e f f o or r c ch hi i l l d dr r e en n w wi i t th h c ca an nc ce er r a an nd d t th he ei ir r f fa am mi il li ie es s a al lo on ng g w wi it th h L Li il ly ys s f fr ri ie en nd ds s a an nd d c cl la as ss sm ma at te es s t to o c co om me e o ou ut t a an nd d p pl la ay y. . S Sa ar ra ah h E Ec ck ki in ng ge er r c ca an nt t t th hi in nk k o of f a a b be et tt te er r w wa ay y t to o r re em me em mb be er r t th he e g gi ir rl l w wh ho o w we el lc co om me ed d a an n u un ns su ur re e n ni in nt th h- -g gr ra ad de er r t to o A Al lt ta a- - m mo on nt t t th hr re ee e y ye ea ar rs s a ag go o. . T Th he e w wh ho ol le e d da ay y i is s g go oi in ng g t to o b be e r re ea al ll ly y e em mo ot ti io on na al l, ,s sh he e s sa ay ys s. . B Bu ut t I I t th hi in nk k i it ts s g go oi in ng g t to o b be e m mo or re e o of f a a L Le et ts s n no ot t b be e s sa ad d, , l le et ts s r re em me em mb be er r L Li il ly y a an nd d a al ll l t th he e h ha ap pp py y m mo om me en nt ts s. .E E- -M MA AI IL L: : b bc ca ar rl lt to on n@ @b bh ha am mn ne ew ws s. . c co om m SPECIAL Sean Gibson, in the middle, coached the Altamont girls soccer team and took extra time to play soccer-golf with Lily Rushton in the afternoons. Lily is on the far left, and her older sister, Virginia, is on the far right. DETAILS y y W Wh ha at t: : L Li il ly ys s F Fi ir rs st t A An nn nu ua al l S So oc cc ce er r- -G Go ol lf f T To ou ur rn na am me en nt t y y W Wh he er re e: : L Li il ly y F Fi ie el ld d, , 1 12 22 20 0 5 50 0t th h S St t. . y y W Wh he en n: : 1 1 t to o 5 5 p p. .m m. . t to od da ay y y y A Ad dm mi is ss si io on n: : F Fr re ee e SPECIAL/BILLY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY Friends and classmates remember Lily Rushton for her sparkling smile and sassy attitude. “She was definitely one of those girls that everyone knew and everyone loved,” one friend says.

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Page 1: Sunday,October31,2010 FROMPAGEONE …

Sunday, October 31, 2010 The BirminghamNews j 11AFROM PAGE ONE

LILY:Learning tosmile againFrom Page 10A

‘‘WWhhiicchh oonnee iiss wwhhiicchh??’’““SShhee wwaass lliikkee,, ‘‘HHii,, II’’mm

LLiillyy.. WWee’’rree ggooiinngg ttoo bbee ggrreeaattffrriieennddss,,’’ ”” SSaarraahh rreemmeemm--bbeerrss.. ““AAnndd tthhaatt hhaappppeenneedd..””

LLiillyy aanndd hheerr ffrriieennddss wwoouullddggeett ttooggeetthheerr iinn aann uuppssttaaiirrssrroooomm aatt hheerr hhoouussee oonn CCaann--tteerrbbuurryy RRooaadd ttoo ppllaayy ccaarrddss,,wwaattcchh mmoovviieess aanndd jjuusstt hhaannggoouutt..

TTuurrnnss oouutt,, sshhee wwaass qquuiitteetthhee ccaarrdd sshhaarrkk,, aanndd oonnccee,, oonnaa rraaffttiinngg ttrriipp ttoo tthhee NNaannttaa--hhaallaa NNaattiioonnaall FFoorreesstt,, LLiillyyttooookk hheerr ccllaassssmmaatteess ttoo tthheecclleeaanneerrss..

““OOnnee nniigghhtt,, tthhee eennttiirreenniinntthh ggrraaddee ppllaayyeedd ppookkeerr,,””hheerr ffrriieenndd SSaarraahh ssaayyss.. ““LLiillyywwaass lliikkee,, ‘‘II’’mm nnoott rreeaallllyy ggooooddaatt ppookkeerr..’’ TThheenn sshhee bbeeaatt eevv--eerryyoonnee..””

LLiillyy mmaaddee tthhee AAllttaammoonnttggiirrllss ssoocccceerr tteeaamm hheerr ffrreesshh--mmaann yyeeaarr,, aanndd ffoorr aa sshhoorrttwwhhiillee,, sshhee ggoott ttoo ppllaayy aalloonngg--ssiiddee hheerr oollddeerr ssiisstteerr,, aa sseenniioorrmmiiddffiieellddeerr wwhhoo aallssoo wwaass aatteeaamm ccaappttaaiinn..

““TThheeyy llooookkeedd ssoo ssiimmiillaarrbbeeccaauussee tthheeyy bbootthh hhaadd aalllltthhiiss hhaaiirr,,”” CCeeccee PPlleessss ssaayyss..““WWhheenn tthheeyy wweerree oonn tthheeffiieelldd,, iitt wwaass lliikkee,, wwhhiicchh oonneeiiss wwhhiicchh??””

DDuurriinngg sspprriinngg bbrreeaakk,,tthhoouugghh,, LLiillyy ssttaarrtteedd hhaavviinnggsseevveerree hheeaaddaacchheess,, wwhhiicchhccaammee aanndd wweenntt wwiitthhoouutt eexx--ppllaannaattiioonn.. HHeerr mmoosstt rreecceennttMMRRII hhaaddnn’’tt sshhoowwnn aannyycchhaannggee iinn hheerr ttuummoorr..

TThheenn,, iinn tthhee sseeccoonndd hhaallffooff aa ttiiee ggaammee wwiitthh BBrriiaarr--wwoooodd CChhrriissttiiaann aatt AAllttaa--mmoonntt’’ss CCoommeerr FFiieelldd,, LLiillyyppuulllleedd uupp aass sshhee rraann bbyyCCooaacchh GGiibbssoonn oonn tthhee nneeaarrssiiddeelliinnee,, ppuutt hheerr hheeaadd iinn hheerrhh aa nn dd ss aa nn dd ff ee ll ll tt oo tt hh eeggrroouunndd..

EEvveerryytthhiinngg ssttooppppeedd,, iinn--cclluuddiinngg tthhee ssooffttbbaallll aannddbbaasseebbaallll ggaammeess oonn tthhee aaddjjaa--cceenntt ffiieellddss..

WWhh ii ll ee aann aamm bbuu ll aann cc eerruusshheedd LLiillyy ttoo tthhee hhoossppiittaall,,tthhee AAllttaammoonntt ggiirrllss aanndd tthheeBBrriiaarrwwoooodd ggiirrllss hhuuddddlleedd iinntthhee mmiiddddllee ooff tthhee ffiieelldd aannddssaaiidd aa pprraayyeerr ffoorr LLiillyy..

““IItt wwaass jjuusstt lliikkee eevveerryybbooddyywwaass ttaallkkiinngg aabboouutt hhooww iittwwaass ggooiinngg ttoo bbee aallll rriigghhtt,,((tthhaatt)) tthheeyy wweerree aallll tthheerree ffoorreeaacchh ootthheerr,,”” CCeeccee PPlleessss rree--ccaallllss.. ““IItt wwaass kkiinndd ooff aa ccoomm--ffoorrttiinngg tthhiinngg..””

OOnn hheerr 1155tthh bbiirrtthhddaayy,, LLiillyyllaayy aa ccoommaa iinn tthhee ppeeddiiaattrriicc

iinntteennssiivvee ccaarree uunniitt aatt CChhiilldd--rreenn’’ss HHoossppiittaall..

HHeerr mmootthheerr ppllaayyeedd mmuussiiccffrroomm LLiillyy’’ss iiPPoodd,, bbrroouugghhtthheerr ffaavvoorriittee ssoofftt bbllaannkkeett aannddsspprraayyeedd hheerr ppeerrffuummee iinn tthheerroooomm iinn hhooppeess ooff ssttiimmuullaatt--iinngg hheerr sseennsseess..

““VViirrggiinniiaa aanndd II wwoouulldd ttrryyttoo ffiixx hheerr hhaaiirr,, aanndd bbooyy,, sshheewwoouulldd rreessppoonndd ttoo tthhaatt,,”” hheerrmmootthheerr ssaayyss.. ““SShhee ddiidd nnoottlliikkee aannyyoonnee ppuulllliinngg oonn hheerrhhaaiirr..””

TThheenn oonnee ddaayy,, aa nnuurrsseettaappppeedd GGaaiill RRuusshhttoonn oonn tthheesshhoouullddeerr aanndd ppooiinntteedd ttooLLiillyy,, wwhhoo hhaadd ooppeenneedd hheerrrriigghhtt eeyyee..

AAfftteerr sshhee ccaammee oouutt ooff hheerrccoommaa aanndd wweenntt hhoommee ffrroommtthhee hhoossppiittaall,, LLiillyy wwaallkkeeddwwiitthh aa nnoottiicceeaabbllee lliimmpp.. HHeerrll eeff tt ee yy ee ll ii dd,, ww hh ii cc hh hh aa ddddrrooooppeedd bbeeffoorree,, wwaass cclloosseeddccoommpplleetteellyy.. SShhee hhaadd ttoo lleeaarrnnttoo wwrriittee aanndd eeaatt wwiitthh hheerr lleefftthhaanndd..

SShhee aallssoo hhaadd ttoo tteeaacchh hheerr--sseellff hhooww ttoo ssmmiillee aaggaaiinn..

““WWee ddiiddnn’’tt kknnooww tthhiiss ((aattffiirrsstt)),,”” hheerr mmootthheerr ssaayyss,, ““bbuuttwwhheenn sshhee ppoosseedd ffoorr ppiicc--ttuurreess,, sshhee hhaadd aappppaarreennttllyykkiinndd ooff ffoorrggootttteenn hhooww ttoossmmiillee..””

‘‘SSttiillll jjuusstt aass ssaassssyy’’AAfftteerr LLiillyy ggoott bbaacckk ttoo

sscchhooooll tthhaatt ffaallll,, sshhee jjuussttwwaanntteedd ttoo bbee lliikkee aallll tthheeootthheerr ggiirrllss..

WWaallkkiinngg tthhee hhaallllss bbeettwweeeennccllaasssseess,, sshhee ttoolldd hheerr ccllaassss--mmaatteess nnoott ttoo ssllooww ddoowwnn ttoowwaaiitt oonn hheerr.. AAnndd sshhee wwaass ddee--tteerrmmiinneedd ttoo ttaakkee tthhee ssttaaiirrss,,uunnttiill aa sscchhooooll aaddmmiinniissttrraattoorrttoolldd hheerr ttoo ssttaarrtt uussiinngg tthhee eell--eevvaattoorr ffoorr hheerr oowwnn ssaaffeettyy..

““PPhhyyssiiccaallllyy,, sshhee wwaass ddiiff--ffeerreenntt,, bbuutt ppeerrssoonnaalliittyy--wwiisseesshhee wwaass eexxaaccttllyy tthhee ssaammee,,””aannootthheerr ccllaassssmmaattee,, JJuulliiaaMMuurrrraayy,, ssaayyss.. ““SShhee wwaass ssttiilllljjuusstt aass ssaassssyy aanndd ffuunnnnyy aassbbeeffoorree..””

WWhheenn aannootthheerr ssoocccceerr sseeaa--ssoonn ccaammee aarroouunndd tthhaatt ffooll--lloowwiinngg sspprriinngg,, LLiillyy wweenntt ttoommoosstt ooff hheerr tteeaamm’’ss pprraaccttiicceessaanndd ddrreesssseedd oouutt ffoorr tthheeggaammeess..

SSiinnccee sshhee ccoouullddnn’’tt ppllaayy,,tthhoouugghh,, sshhee ssaatt oonn tthheebbeenncchh hheellppiinngg hheerr nneewwccooaacchh,, MMaatttt KKiirrkkppaattrriicckk,,wwhhoo ttooookk oovveerr aass tthhee ggiirrllssccooaacchh wwhheenn GGiibbssoonn ssttaarrtteeddccooaacchhiinngg tthhee bbooyyss,, kkeeeepp tthheeggaammee ssttaattss..

““SShhee wwaass kkiinndd ooff lliikkee mmyyaassssiissttaanntt ccooaacchh,, hheellppiinngg mmeekkeeeepp ttrraacckk ooff eevveerryytthhiinngg,,””KKiirrkkppaattrriicckk ssaayyss.. ““SShhee wwaassaass mmuucchh aa ppaarrtt ooff tthhee tteeaammaass aannyybbooddyy eellssee..””

‘‘LLiillyy jjuusstt ttooookk iitt’’FFrroomm tthhee ttiimmee tthhee ttuummoorr

ffiirrsstt iinnvvaaddeedd LLiillyy’’ss bbrraaiinn iinn22000022,, RReeddddyy,, hheerr nneeuurroo--oonn--ccoollooggiisstt,, hhaadd ttoolldd LLiillyy aannddhheerr ppaarreennttss tthhaatt ccaanncceerr wwaass

aa jjoouurrnneeyy,, aanndd ssoommeettiimmeesstthhaatt jjoouurrnneeyy ccaann ttaakkee aann uunn--eexxppeecctteedd ttuurrnn..

FFoorr aa ggoooodd ppaarrtt ooff tthhaattjjoouurrnneeyy,, LLiillyy ggoott ttoo bbee aa ttyypp--iiccaall tteeeennaaggeerr.. AAnndd uunnttiill tthheellaasstt yyeeaarr aanndd aa hhaallff,, RReeddddyy,,wwhhoossee ssoonn ppllaayyeedd ssoocccceerrwwiitthh LLiillyy’’ss bbrrootthheerr,, ssaawwmmoorree ooff hheerr ppaattiieenntt aatt tthheessoocccceerr ffiieelldd tthhaann sshhee ddiidd aatttthhee cclliinniicc..

““LLiillyy ddiidd vveerryy,, vveerryy wweellllffoorr ssiixx yyeeaarrss,,”” RReeddddyy ssaayyss.. ““IIwwoouulldd ssoommeettiimmeess sseeee hheerr aattssoocccceerr,, aanndd sshhee wwaass aallwwaayysslliikkee,, ‘‘HHeeyy,, DDrr.. RReeddddyy..’’ SShheewwaass aa vveerryy sswweeeett,, vveerryy ppoo--lliittee,, vveerryy hhaappppyy cchhiilldd..””

TThheenn llaasstt OOccttoobbeerr,, RReeddddyyhhaadd ttoo tteellll LLiillyy tthhaatt hheerr jjoouurr--nneeyy hhaadd ttaakkeenn aannootthheerr bbaaddttuurrnn,, aanndd iitt wwaass ccoommiinngg ttooaann eenndd..

““LLiillyy jjuusstt ttooookk iitt,,”” hheerrmmootthheerr rreemmeemmbbeerrss.. ““II rree--mmeemmbbeerr hhaavviinngg ttoo mmaakkeessuurree tthhaatt LLiillyy uunnddeerrssttooooddwwhhaatt AAllyyssssaa ssaaiidd,, aanndd sshheeddiidd..””

OOnn tthhee ffiirrsstt ddaayy ooff NNoo--vveemmbbeerr,, aa SSuunnddaayy mmoorrnniinngg,,tthhee wwhhoollee RRuusshhttoonn ffaammiillyy ——DDeeaakk,, GGaaiill,, VViirrggiinniiaa aannddFFoorrdd —— ggaatthheerreedd iinn LLiillyy’’ssbbeeddrroooomm ttoo ssaayy tthheeiirr ggoooodd--bbyyeess..

““TThhee ffiivvee ooff uuss wweerree ttoo--ggeetthheerr iinn LLiillyy’’ss rroooomm,, jjuusstthhoollddiinngg hheerr hhaanndd aanndd tteelllliinngghheerr hhooww mmuucchh wwee lloovvee hheerr,,””hheerr mmoomm rreemmeemmbbeerrss..

TThhee jjoouurrnneeyy eennddeedd oonn AAllllSSaaiinnttss’’ DDaayy..

‘‘TThhiiss iiss hheerr ggaammee’’TThhiiss ppaasstt sseeaassoonn,, LLiillyy’’ss

oolldd tteeaammmmaatteess wwoorree bbllaacckkaarrmm bbaannddss iimmpprriinntteedd wwiitthh““LLPPRR ##66,,”” aanndd oonn aa cchhiillllyynniigghhtt iinn MMaarrcchh,, oonn tthhee ssaammeeffiieelldd wwhheerree LLiillyy ccoollllaappsseedd aall--mmoosstt ttwwoo yyeeaarrss eeaarrlliieerr,, TThheeAAllttaammoonntt SScchhooooll rreennaammeeddCCoommeerr FFiieelldd aanndd ddeeddiiccaatteeddiitt LLiillyy FFiieelldd..

TThhee AAllttaammoonntt ggiirrllss wweerreeppllaayyiinngg tthheeiirr aarrcchh--rriivvaallssffrroomm IInnddiiaann SSpprriinnggss SScchhoooolltthhaatt nniigghhtt,, aanndd AAddddiissoonnPPoowweellll ,, tthhee vvooccaall tteeaammlleeaaddeerr,, rreemmiinnddeedd tthheemm tthheeyybbeetttteerr nnoott lleett LLiillyy ddoowwnn..

““WWee hhaadd aa bbaadd ffiirrsstt hhaallff,,””CCeeccee PPlleessss rreeccaallllss.. ““AAddddiissoonnPPoowweellll,, sshhee aallwwaayyss hhaass hheerrhheeaarrtt ccoommpplleetteellyy iinn tthheeggaammee,, aanndd sshhee wwaass lliikkee,, ‘‘YYoouugguuyyss,, tthhiiss ggaammee iiss mmoorree iimm--ppoorrttaanntt tthhaann aannyy ooff tthheeootthheerr oonneess.. WWee hhaavvee ttoo wwiinntthhiiss oonnee ffoorr LLiillyy.. TThhiiss iiss hheerrggaammee.. TThhiiss iiss hheerr ffiieelldd..’’ ””

WWiitthh ttwwoo ggooaallss ffrroommssoopphhoommoorree ffoorrwwaarrdd KKaarrmmeennGGaaiinneess —— oonnee oonn aann aassssiissttffrroomm AAddddiissoonn PPoowweellll —— tthheeAAllttaammoonntt ggiirrllss sshhuutt oouuttSSpprriinnggss 22--00..

‘‘LLeett’’ss rreemmeemmbbeerr LLiillyy’’AA ccoouuppllee ooff mmoonntthhss aaggoo,,

KKiirrkkppaattrriicckk,, tthhee nneeww ggiirrllssccooaacchh aatt AAllttaammoonntt,, wwaasswwaattcchhiinngg tthhee mmoovviiee ““LLeetttteerrsstt oo GG oo dd ,, ”” aa bb oo uu tt aa nn88--yyeeaarr--oolldd bbooyy wwiitthh aa bbrraaiinnttuummoorr wwhhoossee lleetttteerrss ttoo GGooddhhaavvee aa rreessiidduuaall hheeaalliinngg eeff--ffeecctt oonn tthhee ppeeooppllee aarroouunnddhhiimm..

IInn tthhee bbooyy’’ss mmeemmoorryy,, tthhee

ttoowwnnssppeeooppllee ppuutt uupp aa mmaaiill--bbooxx iinn tthhee mmiiddddllee ooff ttoowwnn ssootthhaatt ootthheerrss mmaayy wwrriittee tthheeiirroowwnn lleetttteerrss ttoo GGoodd..

AAss hhee wwaattcchheedd iitt,, KKiirrkkppaa--ttrriicckk ccoouullddnn’’tt hheellpp bbuutt tthhiinnkkooff LLiillyy,, aanndd iitt ggaavvee hhiimm aanniiddeeaa..

““II ddoonn’’tt kknnooww iiff GGoodd ttoollddmmee oorr LLiillyy oorr wwhhaatt,,”” KKiirrkkppaa--ttrriicckk ssaayyss.. ““BBuutt ssoocccceerr ggoollffwwaass ssoommeetthhiinngg tthhaatt hheellppeeddLLiillyy aanndd mmiigghhtt bbee aabbllee ttoohheellpp ssoommee ootthheerr kkiiddss iinn hheerrssiittuuaattiioonn,, aanndd iitt cceerrttaaiinnllyywwoouulldd bbee aa ggrreeaatt wwaayy ttoo rree--mmeemmbbeerr hheerr aanndd hhoonnoorrhheerr..””

TThhee nneexxtt ddaayy,, KKiirrkkppaattrriicckkccaalllleedd SSeeaann GGiibbssoonn —— LLiillyy’’ssssoocccceerr--ggoollff bbuuddddyy ““GGiibbbboo””—— ttoo rruunn iitt ppaasstt hhiimm.. GGiibbssoonnccaalllleedd tthhee RRuusshhttoonnss aanndd ggootttthheeiirr bblleessssiinnggss..

SSoo tthhiiss aafftteerrnnoooonn aatt LLiillyyFFiieelldd,, CChhiillddrreenn’’ss HHoossppiittaallaanndd tthhee AAllttaammoonntt CCllaassss ooff22001111,, LLiillyy’’ss ccllaassss,, aarree tteeaa--mmiinngg uupp ttoo ppuutt oonn tthhee ffiirrssttLLiillyy’’ss FFiirrsstt AAnnnnuuaall SSoocccceerr--GGoollff TToouurrnnaammeenntt..

GGiibbssoonn aanndd KKiirrkkppaattrriicckkhhaavvee llaaiidd oouutt aa nniinnee--hhoolleeccoouurrssee ffoorr cchhiillddrreenn wwiitthhccaanncceerr aanndd tthheeiirr ffaammiilliieess ——aalloonngg wwiitthh LLiillyy’’ss ffrriieennddss aannddccllaassssmmaatteess —— ttoo ccoommee oouuttaanndd ppllaayy..

SSaarraahh EEcckkiinnggeerr ccaann’’tt tthhiinnkkooff aa bbeetttteerr wwaayy ttoo rreemmeemmbbeerrtthhee ggiirrll wwhhoo wweellccoommeedd aannuunnssuurree nniinntthh--ggrraaddeerr ttoo AAllttaa--mmoonntt tthhrreeee yyeeaarrss aaggoo..

““TThhee wwhhoollee ddaayy iiss ggooiinnggttoo bbee rreeaallllyy eemmoottiioonnaall,,”” sshheessaayyss.. ““BBuutt II tthhiinnkk iitt’’ss ggooiinnggttoo bbee mmoorree ooff aa ‘‘LLeett’’ss nnoott bbeessaadd,, lleett’’ss rreemmeemmbbeerr LLiillyy aannddaallll tthhee hhaappppyy mmoommeennttss..’’ ””

EE--MMAAIILL:: bbccaarrllttoonn@@bbhhaammnneewwss..ccoomm

SPECIAL

Sean Gibson, in themiddle, coached the Altamont girls soccer team and tookextra time to play soccer-golf with Lily Rushton in the afternoons. Lily is on the farleft, and her older sister, Virginia, is on the far right.

DETAILSyyWWhhaatt:: LLiillyy’’ss FFiirrsstt AAnnnnuuaall

SSoocccceerr--GGoollff TToouurrnnaammeenntt

yyWWhheerree:: LLiillyy FFiieelldd,, 11222200 5500tthhSStt..

yyWWhheenn:: 11 ttoo 55 pp..mm.. ttooddaayy

yyAAddmmiissssiioonn:: FFrreeee

SPECIAL/BILLY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY

Friends and classmates remember Lily Rushton forher sparkling smile and sassy attitude. “She wasdefinitely one of those girls that everyone knew andeveryone loved,” one friend says.