Posted on 01/16/2013 3:48:49 PM PST by lacrew
Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, a native of Mobile, met the little girl more than a week earlier, when he and his family delivered presents to the hospital's pediatric patients on Christmas Eve 2011. McCarron was a patient at the hospital after he was nearly killed in a jet ski accident as a young boy.
When McCarron handed Starla a present that night, she was wearing an Alabama cheerleading uniform. She handed him back a present of her own: a bright yellow bracelet that was inscribed with the words, "Just trust."
McCarron promised Starla he would wear the bracelet when the Crimson Tide played LSU in the 2012 BCS National Championship in New Orleans.
A year ago, TV cameras captured the bright yellow bracelet on McCarron's right wrist whenever he dropped back to pass against LSU.
"I think it's the most amazing thing," DeAndra said. "It's easy for people to make vows and then break them. But he sat in that hospital room and said he was going to wear the bracelet in the game. You could see the bracelet clear as day on TV. The young man kept his promise to our daughter."
In March, Starla's parents asked McCarron if he would become Starla's godfather. He and teammate Kenny Bell helped raise money for her health care by signing autographs for several hours at a Mobile shopping mall last spring. McCarron even surprised Starla by attending her "Celebration of Life" party after she was released from the hospital.
McCarron is still wearing Starla's bracelet today. When McCarron underwent shoulder surgery after the 2011 season, he instructed doctors not to cut the bracelet from his wrist.
"I never take it off. I'm always thinking about her. She's a special girl."
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.go.com ...
Never heard of this. Thanks for posting. ROLL TIDE!
What a wonderful story! Thanks for posting it.
Roll Tide!
This is so awesome
No problem - I thought it was a great story too.
The part that gets me is the beginning. The guy’s a couple of weeks away from playing in the big game...and momma’s got him handing out presents at th hospital. It seems that, for now at least, McCarron hasn’t let success go to his head.
What a great story and what beautiful little girl.
Roll Tide over the Fighting Phonies.
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