After more than two months of surgeries, recovery and therapy in Charlotte, Lulu Gribbin is coming home to Birmingham on Sat., Aug. 24, and a celebration is being held in Mountain Brook. At 4 p.m. community members are invited to line the streets starting at Bromberg’s down Montevallo Road into Crestline Village and to wave and cheer to show support for Lulu and her family as they drive along the route.
By Madoline Markham Koonce
More than 216,000 people are following along on Instagram as 15-year-old Lulu Gribbin learns to walk again, her strength and resilience shining through in every post.
“Lulu is a rockstar,” her cousin Anna wrote on Caring Bridge on Aug. 12 after spending time with Lulu at a Charlotte hospital where she is recovering from a June 7 shark attack in Rosemary Beach. “She continues to defy all odds, exceed her goals, and continues to do it with such grace and resilience. She is also the same old Lulu; her sweet-natured, funny, uplifting self is still here.”
After a series of surgeries this summer, the Mountain Brook teenager is learning to use a prosthetic leg and prosthetic hand through physical therapy and occupational therapy.
The @lulug.strong account on Instagram has posted videos of her kicking a soccer ball, riding a three-wheel bicycle, walking up stairs and playing games with visiting friends and family in recent weeks. Other posts feature updates on fundraisers for Lulu’s recovery and encouragement she has received, including a visit from University of Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats and many videos sent by celebrities and athletes.
On CaringBridge.com, Lulu’s friends and family continue to share stories of how they see her strength play out in her recovery, mixed in with updates from her mom, Ann Blair, on Lulu and their family, including Lulu’s twin sister, Ellie, and younger brother and sister, Trip and Maggie, who have started back to school in Mountain Brook.
“Since June 7 I have witnessed the power of prayer. The power of community. The power of God’s grace. The power of a good attitude. The power of family and the powerful connection the twins have,” Ann Blair wrote on Caring Bridge on Aug. 1, the day Lulu first walked with her prosthetic leg. “I am truly in awe and so incredibly grateful. She made it, she is here, and we are blown away. Watch out world, Lulu is on the move!”
Lulu’s Law
The June 7 shark attacks on Lulu and two others have also inspired national legislation.
U.S. Senator Katie Britt on July 30 introduced Lulu’s Law, named in honor of Lulu, to help prevent future shark attacks with a better emergency alert system. The law would make it so wireless emergency alerts could be sent via cell phone if a shark has attacked someone or if the conditions are enhanced for a shark attack. Existing WEAs include warnings about extreme weather and missing persons.
The day that Lulu and her friend McCray Faust were attacked, a woman had been attacked by a shark 90 minutes earlier and a few miles away, and a better alert system might have helped prevent the second attack.
Ways to Support Lulu
A fund has been set up for Lulu’s long-term care, and donations can be sent one of three ways:
• Venmo: The account is @LuluGStrong, and the last four phone number digits are 6597, but you can bypass that by clicking “pay anyway.”
• Zelle: Enter the email [email protected].
• Check: Make checks out to Richard Littrell FBO Lulu Gribbin and to Oakworth Capital Bank; ATTN: Richard Littrell FBO Lulu Gribbin; 850 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 200; Birmingham, AL 35209.
Many local businesses have held fundraisers with proceeds going to Lulu’s recovery fund. Two that are still going on are:
• Bandwagon Sports, based in Homewood, is selling purple T-shirts and sweatshirts with “I Made It” printed on them – Lulu’s first words after the attack. Also available are purple and white hats that read “Lulu Strong,” and Lulu Strong stickers. Twenty dollars from each shirt or hat purchase goes to a fund for Lulu, and shipping is available across the country at bandwagonsports.com.
• Holland & Birch, a jewelry designer based in Homewood, is selling brass cuffs with the words “I Made It” stamped on them for $40 each, with 40% of proceeds going to a fund for Lulu. You can order them online at hollandandbirch.com.
