Abbey was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. On a very cold and rainy Mardi-Gras Day. She was the youngest of my three daughters. Yes! She was a trooper, from the very beginning. Abbey was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, (a form of Muscular Dystrophy), when she was 16 months old. She never had the ability to walk or crawl. We were told she would NOT live past 3 years. At age 4 yrs, Abbey was chosen as local Poster Child, for the New Orleans area, As well as State Poster Child for Louisiana. She was even runner-up for National Poster Child. We accepted her post as an honor. As a result,we were always on the go, fund raising and attending functions on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Meeting and making friends all over Louisiana I personally think, all this running gave Abbey the stamina to make the most out of her life. (which she did!) When she was 6yrs old, she had a wish granted by the Make A Wish Foundation. Her wish, was to meet "Mac Gyver". So the five of us, were flown to where he was filming, to meet him (on location), which happened to be in Vancouver, British Columbia. Abbey was so nervous, about meeting him, she got sick. I was afraid that she had picked up a germ from me, having food poisoning at the time. She was just as excited about sitting in the same seat, that Dolly Parton, sat in the week before. (in our Limo) Abbey was a big Dolly fan too. She loved riding around in that limo for a week. Richard, our driver, even let her make a phone call back home. I got a great shot of Abbey sitting in her chair, holding a lap full of "fall" leaves. She got a little spooked, when we went for the helecopter ride, to the top of Mt. Whistler, and landed. Because our pilot "jokingly" told her that he had never flown before. I can still hear her say ... Ohhhh Momma. This truly was a trip... That Wish, will be ever present in my memories. It was a special moment in time, I spent with my three daughters. I will never forget things I "pulled-off" to brighten Abbey's days. Once we planned to attend a Randy Travis concert, I sent my cousin the money to obtain the six tickets we would need for the concert. That very night a friend in the Lafayette Jaycees called me and said he was working on getting back stage passes for the upcoming concert at the Cajun Dome...because He and Abbey had a conversation at a previous convention, and she expressed a desire to meet Randy Travis. So, on Friday night we attended the concert in Alexandria. We had a great time. On Saturday night we stopped at the Cajun Dome, in Lafayette, I told her that I was going to se if I could get tickets to see him again. She was disappointed when I returned and told her the concert was sold out. {which it was!} I'll never forget the look on her face when she realized I was wearing a (back stage pass) on my shirt..... ahh, the tricky part was we didn't have tickets to the concert! But never under estimate the power of a "Mom on a mission." Somehow, when we walked up wearing the passes, and were able to get all four people in our party into the concert without tickets. Abbey got to meet Randy! The look on her face, in the 8X10 I have, with his lips on her cheek.....said it all!!! And the time I tried to get backstage passes for her and Stacy to meet BUSH, I was unsucessful, of course...til we got to the door. At which time I slipped into "MOM mode" and threw some names around, saying we were promised these passes. It worked! They got to met him even got photos with him too. She was beside herself..naturally! I was quite pleased with having accomplished this for her. I remember her telling me once, while she was in the mosh-pit at a concert {right where every Mom wants to hear thier child was especially when that child is confined to a wheelchair} Right? She told me "Buck Cherry" stopped in the middle of a song, to ask her, what was the kind of hair color she used and what the color was called. Of course she told him..........this flattered her very much. And yes, her hair was bright RED! She had photos with, Gavin Rossdale, of BUSH. Trent Resnor, Marilyn Manson...{her idol} MacGyver, and Randy Travis to name a few. All in all, Abbey led a pretty fast-pased life. But most important, she had a good one! I am greatful for this. On May 6, 2008..........somehow, Addison hit a button on my phone, which showed she was calling Abbey! Now, How strange is that? Also, if you dial Abbey's phone number.......you get a recording, which tells you, this number is (unreachable) I've never in my life before heard of this!!! STRANGE huh?