BamaOnLine.com - Column: Tide signs on for cause

November 2, 2009

Christopher Walsh
BamaOnLine.com Senior Writer

When University of Alabama softball coach Patrick Murphy started to break the news to his team, the players didn't know what to think.

Despite an impressive fall showing, sweeping all three weekends of exhibitions, the Crimson Tide was going to make a change and add another face to the locker room. He then really got some strange looks with his next line about Krystin Pruitt.

"Well, she's seven," he said.

Wednesday afternoon, Alabama will have Krystin and her family sign a non-binding letter of intent for the 2009-10 season to do nothing more than be as big a part of the team as possible.

Krystin, from Jasper, was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year, and it's aggressive. She's already been through surgical procedures, chemotherapy and just about everything that would cause a parent to cry themselves to sleep every night.

"It's going to be an exciting day," Krystin's mother Stacey said. "She says she wants to learn how to play softball, and she's always up for having new friends.

"It means a lot to me."

It was through serving on the executive board of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association that Murphy first heard of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, an organization that connects children with brain tumors and sports organizations.
He's the NFCA's second vice-president. The first is Kris Herman, the coach at Williams College in Massachusetts.

"She's one of those Northeasterners who will kind of bulldoze you into something, but I love her to death," Murphy said.

Herman kept telling Murphy she was going to try and hook him up with someone, especially considering the exposure the Alabama program could provide. Meanwhile, other teams have been paired with pediatric cancer patients include Michigan baseball, Stanford women's lacrosse, Columbia women's soccer, Massachusetts women's basketball, North Carolina baseball, Vanderbilt women's lacrosse and Southern Miss volleyball.
In football, Cincinnati calls 12-year-old cancer patient Mitch Stone its "secret weapon" this season.

So when told about Krystin, Murphy didn't hesitate.

"We try and do as many real world things with our kids as possible because right now they're in fantasy land," he said. "They don't have a clue. They're a spoiled college athlete playing a great game. They need to need stuff outside in the real world.
"When an opportunity like this comes along, you're not going to pass it up. It's a win-win for both sides."

Already the softball players have started reading Krystin's on-line journal. Among their early favorites is Stacey's entry from last Wednesday, which demonstrates her spirit.

"So, a lot has happened. I will start with Krystin's MRI. She had it done a week ago, today. We were blessed to hear those wonderful words, NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE. God is watching over her, and is keeping her safe. Thank you for all of your prayers. While we were there, they accessed her port, but couldn't get it to work. This meant that they would have to give her an IV. She was not happy with that at all. She ran from us, and locked herself in the bathroom. They had to get me a key to get her out. Then, it took 4 of us to hold her down to get the IV in her. Those poor nurses took a beating from her. She kicked one in the chest, and was punching another in the arm.

"She had a very bad morning going to school the next day, but she seems to be getting better since then. She has enjoyed school this week. It's homecoming week and they have been getting to dress up all week. Monday was pajama day, Tuesday was decade day, and today was nerd day. She likes any excuse to dress up.

"On Saturday, we had her birthday party."

Wednesday, at the signing/adoption party, Krystin will be given a locker in the softball clubhouse along with numerous items that come with being part of the Crimson Tide. Some will displace the Texas Longhorns items Stacey brought with her from Dallas, where she originally hails, but should blend in with the extended family's other UA memorabilia.

Ever see a Christmas tree decked out in only crimson and white?

"They're some of the biggest Alabama fans I've ever seen," Stacey said.

But that's not what this is about. Consider the following statistics from the Friends of Jaclyn website (which quotes the 2004-2005 Primary Brain Tumors in the United States Statistical Report written by the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States):

Brain tumors are now the leading cause of
cancer death in children under age 20 and are the third leading cause of cancer death for young adults ages 20-39.

An estimated 3,110 new cases of childhood primary brain tumors are expected to be diagnosed each year. Of these new cases, an estimated 2,330 will be in children less than 15 years of age.

The five-year relative survival rate following diagnosis of a primary malignant brain tumor is 32.7 percent for males and 31.6 for females.

"I think it will help a lot with awareness," said Stacey, who knows that there's a 30-40 percent chance that Krystin's tumor could come back anywhere in her central nervous system.

That's what this is about.

"A couple of them immediately said 'I always wanted a little sister,'" Murphy said. "I think this is going to be a great thing for both of us."

For more information about Krystin Pruitt: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/krystinp
For more information about The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation: http://www.friendsofjaclyn.org/

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