|
(The following is excerpted from “The Crimson White - The Scene” published October 2, 2007) For many people who love the University of Alabama, Big Al is the mascot of great tradition. But for one little girl from Bessemer, AL, (and Pleasant Hill), Big Al is more than a tradition. He is a symbol of hope. For each “Big Al game”, Peyton Sheheane walks around the UA campus dressed in Alabama colors from head to toe holding a big sign that reads in silver and red glitter, “I love Big Al” Peyton is one of those kids who thinks Big Al is a real elephant. And her Al is not just any elephant. When she needed him the most, Big Al was there. On March 7, 2002, the day after her fourth birthday party, Peyton was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. “All I could think was, ‘What is happening?’” her mother, Tara, said. “Our world just came crashing down around us.” After five and a half hours of surgery a few days later, the doctors removed a mass the size of a baseball from Peyton’s colon. Five days later Peyton went home, free of cancer. “It was basically just a miracle,” Tara said. “We knew God was going to take care of her.” A couple of days before Peyton’s surgery, Tara contacted Debbie Greenwell, the cheerleading coach and adviser to Big Al. She asked in her E-mail if it would be possible for Big Al to come visit Peyton in the hospital. Greenwell said they would try and not long afterward Butch Hallmark (one of four students who play Big Al) contacted the Sheheanes. He said he would be happy to come visit Peyton. On March 14, the day after Peyton’s surgery, Hallmark arrived at the hospital. He said he first walked into Peyton’s room without wearing the suit, and Peyton’s parents introduced him as Big Al’s friend. Peyton just looked at him. She was on a morphine drip, and the pain she was feeling was apparent. Behind her head were about 20 elephants. |
