Alpha Gamma Delta - University of Alabama

The Squirrel's Nest 2 "A sister is one who reaches for your hand and touches your heart" —unknown. This could not be more true for Anne Martha Bernauer Corley '98, who has had the loving support of her Alpha Gamma Delta sisters through many of life's tougher days. Anne Martha was exposed to the love and support of Psi Chapter early on through her mother, Anne Langstaff Bernauer '75, and aunt Dot Langstaff Johnston '77. "I grew up knowing their lifelong friends, hearing their stories, and having them in my life. When it came time to pledge a sorority, that common thread was a huge factor," she said. After graduating with a bachelor of arts in history in three and a half years, Anne Martha attended law school at the Mississippi College in Jackson. After law school, she joined the firm Maynard, Cooper, and Gale, where she was a real estate lawyer, specializing in multifamily housing and senior living transactions all over the country. She and her husband, Brian, were married in 2007, and had their daughter, Anne Grace, in 2010. Since Brian frequently travels for his job, Anne Martha took on the rewarding role of stay-at-home mother. In 2013, the couple welcomed their second daughter, Ella Rose, whose short time on Earth has been fraught with two infections of HSV-1, commonly known as the cold sore virus. The second bout of illness, at seven months old, damaged the occipital lobe of her brain, resulting in cortical visual impairment. Likely, this will necessitate her reading Braille and using a cane, not because she is entirely blind, but because she can't trust what she sees. The support of Anne Martha's Psi Chapter sisters has been a source of strength through Ella Rose's most trying time. Anne Martha explains that not many friends knew of the first HSV-1 infection when Ella Rose was only three weeks old, but when the infection returned at seven months, the family was shocked and scared and publicly asked for prayers; this call was answered by several Alpha Gams. "It took no time before I got messages from not one but two close Psi friends who I had not spoken to in years, saying they were coming to the Special Care Unit. They would not take no for an answer…We had no idea if Ella Rose would live, and if she did in what capacity. My Psi sisters sent letters, e-mails, messages, called, texted, and dropped off happies in my mailbox. Friends from Fairhope, mostly all Alpha Gams, sent a massive box of notes, items and messages of support to the hospital. Martha Nabers '62 gave us a painting that she did for Ella Rose when she was born, a team of angels, which hung over Ella Rose's hospital bed from her first night there to her last—three weeks later. Cecily Ball Lee '98 and Amy Andrews Henderson '98 came and cried and laughed with me." The support did not end when the family left the hospital. Anne Martha was thrilled to learn that her pledge sister and college roommate, Adrienne Brown Broadfoot '98, is an occupational therapist with a low vision focus, an expert on cortical visual impairment. "What are the odds that my child would live, have only a visual impairment, and that my college roommate is the expert in the field!" Anne Martha said. Ella Rose's visual impairment puts her at risk for developmental delay, and makes her a candidate for school at The Bell Center. Children ages birth to three years are led in classes by a team of therapists and children can thrive in a social setting. The BellRunner program, associated with the Mercedes Marathon, raises funds for The Bell Center by allowing participants in the marathon, half-marathon, relay, or regions 5k to run in honor of a Bell Center child. On February 22, Anne Martha's husband, Brian, along with a team of four other runners, made up the BellRunner team Ella Rose's Angels. Teammates also include Cecily Ball Lee '98 with support from Amy Andrews Henderson '98, Martha Nabers '62, and Cassie Wright Ball '03 who ran the regions 5k. Anne Martha remains humbled and grateful for the support that she and her family have received. "My Psi family has supported me through the very worst in my life and celebrated the very best. They mean more to me than I will ever be able to adequately explain in words," she said. She is optimistic for Ella Rose's future. "From the verge of death to only impaired sight, we are thrilled," Anne Martha said. "To be clear, this child has blown past all expectations set upon her, so let's not count her out of anything, even possibly being an Alpha Gam!" Aside from the visual impairment, Ella Rose is a cognitively advanced, fun-loving child. At her young age, while she may not make eye contact, she has no other signs of her disability. "I imagine one day, when she has a cane, people will take note, and may avoid her. I will admit that I may have been one of those people at one time. That was my loss and is the loss of so many that avoid or overlook anyone with a disability. Whether it be a cane, wheelchair, or a particular look such as Downs Syndrome or cerebral palsy, really anyone different than you—these people may appear different from us, but please make a conscious decision to step outside your own uncertainties and dare to know and love someone like this. You will not believe the overwhelming variety of experience they add to your life. I think our purpose states it best to say we should strive to 'hold truth inviolable, sincerity essential, kindness invaluable. To covet beauty in environment, manner, word and thought.' Beauty can mean so many different things. Let's embrace that and be enriched because of it!" Anne Martha and her family live in Hoover, Alabama. You can contact her at annembama@aol.com. Psi for Life Anne Martha Bernauer Corley '98 Is Grateful for the Support of the Sisterhood Ella Rose and Anne Martha participate in the Children's Race. Dot Langstaff Johnston '77, Anne Langstaff Bernauer '75, Anne Martha Bernauer Corley '98, Cassie Wright Ball '03, Cecily Ball Lee '98, and Amy Andrews Henderson '98.

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