Sid Ortis gets surprise phone call from LSU Coach Les Miles
Mountain Brook Mayor Terry Oden isn’t surprised to see residents and business accustomed to displaying the colors of the Alabama Crimson Tide or Auburn Tigers proudly putting up purple and gold in support of a 15-year-old LSU fan battling bone cancer.
Last week, ribbons and balloons began popping up outside Crestline homes and stores to show support for Sid Ortis, a Mountain Brook teen who had just been released from the hospital where he underwent lung surgery related to his cancer. Sid’s family lived in Louisiana before moving to Mountain Brook, and LSU is his favorite college football team.
“It’s a part of the nature of this city to rally behind people in Mountain Brook who are facing trials and afflictions,” Oden said in an interview today.
Many Mountain Brook residents are well aware of Sid Ortis' battle with bone cancer and his love of the LSU Tigers through Facebook posts by his parents, Scott and Lynn Ortis. On Nov. 14, 2014, Scott Ortis wrote and posted an update on how Sid, who had just finished chemotherapy, faced knee replacement surgery and lung surgery.
On Friday night, LSU Football Coach Les Miles made a surprise call to Sid Ortis last to pray and give him encouragement during his cancer journey, according to a Facebook post from Sid’s mother, Lynn Ortis. Media outlets from the Sporting News to New Orleans have written stories about Miles reaching out to the 15 year old and offering him tickets to sit with the coach’s wife in a suite at an upcoming LSU game.
The community rallying around the Ortis family as the 15-year-old battles cancer is the latest in a string of unity behind Mountain Brook residents battling challenges, Mayor Oden said.
In November 2012, Mountain Brook business owners and residents formed “Team Slade” to raise money to support Slade Anderson, a 7-year-old Mountain Brook elementary student battling leukemia. Stores such as Sugar, Mobley & Sons and The Pants Store sold “Team Slade” T-shirts, and residents donated money for the family.
In 2011, Mountain Brook residents decorated their mailboxes with blue bows in support of 11-year-old Sean Fredella, who had been battling a brain tumor. A year later in December 2012, Sean received cheers as he served as grand marshall for the Mountain Brook Christmas parade. City residents also united in support of the family of Natalee Hollaway after the 18-year-old Mountain Brook High School senior disappeared after a graduation trip to Aruba in May 2005, Oden said.
“I’m thrilled to be mayor of a city in which people are so close and support each other,” the mayor said.
The support of Sid Ortis and his family continues today. Smith's Variety store workers have been swamped with purple and gold ribbon orders. Sugar, a store on Church Street in Crestline, sold out last Friday after being flooded with purple and gold balloon requests and has ordered more.
Sugar’s owner Sarah Franklin Johnson started the campaign to rally the community behind Sid after asking his parents' permission. "It's been amazing how the community has rallied in support of Sid."
Scott Ortis' Facebook page has images showing of how support for Sid's cancer fight has spread beyond Mountain Brook. On Friday night, LSU Football Coach Les Miles made a surprise call to Sid Ortis last to pray and give him encouragement during his cancer journey, according to a Facebook post from Sid’s mother, Lynn Ortis.
A man named Jason Parkman sent Scott Ortis’ Facebook account a photo of purple and gold balloons placed in front of the Taziki's restaurant in Auburn with the caption, "My Tazikis team and I are praying for Sid.
Another poster responded, "Love It: LSU colors in Auburn because SID Rocks!!"