Kirkley's Sports Korner
with Mark A. Kirkley
CURRENT PROJECTS
Strong Heart for #AbbyStrong
It all began for Natalie and I just nine months after we were married. It was a cool southern evening in Georgia in mid January 2012. We were expecting our firstborn, a little baby girl that we were going to name Abigail “Abby.” We both knew that she was going to be born with a heart defect that was caused by the diagnosis of heterotaxy when she was in utero. But what we didn’t know is the journey that was before us all. We knew that God was in control and we never questioned or asked him why? For more on the book read below...
The Will to Overcome
Andrew lives in Southwest Georgia with his parents and two older brothers. Andrew has cerebral palsy on the right side of his body, but that doesn't stop him from playing the sport that he loves the most, baseball. Andrew wasn't a good baseball player as a kid, but that didn't stop him as he had the will to overcome all odds to make it to the Big Leagues. For more on the book read below...
"Strong Heart for #AbbyStrong"
I first began writing this, my first book in October 2018 on a trip to Los Angeles. The title of the book "Strong Heart for #AbbyStrong" and the birth of "Team Kirkley" was inspired by my oldest daughter who is living with congenial heart disease.
It all began for Natalie and I just nine months after we were married. It was a cool southern evening in Georgia in mid January 2012. We were expecting our firstborn, a little baby girl that we were going to name Abigail “Abby.” We both knew that she was going to be born with a heart defect that was caused by the diagnosis of heterotaxy when she was in utero. But what we didn’t know is the journey that was before us all. We knew that God was in control and we never questioned or asked him why? I believe that there is a reason and purpose for everything in this life and one day that purpose will show up in the life of our baby girl Abby. With my communications/journalism undergraduate degree, I have always enjoyed writing ever since my college days. In 2018 my inspiration hit me like a ton of bricks, it was a gift of God. Maybe my writing will be an inspiration not only to me, but to my family and everyone else out there that reads this story. This book is designed to show the reader the challenges of living with a heart defect and the strength of her family around her to love and give her the best care possible. The story of Abby is an amazing journey with both ups and downs, she is the inspiration of the nicknaming my family TEAM KIRKLEY. After Abby was born I sat down to write this poem entitled “We are TEAM KIRKLEY.”
"The Will to Overcome"
I did not have any intentions to begin this book when I had not even finished the first book. But one night I was jotting down ideas for this book, and before I knew it, I was jotting down titles and began to write. This book was inspired, well, by me, and also by the song "Nobody" by the music artist Casting Crowns. The lyrics begin by talking about "all my life I've been told I belong at the end of the line." I was born with Cerebral Palsy that affects my right side of my body. This book is a non fiction narrative. Andrew lives in Southwest Georgia with his parents and two older brothers. Andrew has cerebral palsy on the right side of his body, but that doesn't stop him from playing the sport that he loves the most, baseball. Growing up Andrew and his family moved a lot due to his father serving in the United States Air Force. Andrew wasn't a good baseball player as a kid, but that didn't stop him as he had the will to overcome all odds to make it to the Big Leagues.
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