him a âpeople person.â
While Brenan knew his disorder would never allow him to play football, he played baseball for the Miracle League and loved to watch his favorite football team, the East Limestone High School Indians in Athens, Alabama. His dad, Pat, would take Brenan and Brenanâs brother, Cameron, to cheer the Indians each Friday night in the fall. Over the years, the coach and players grew accustomed to seeing Brenanâs wide grin when the Indians scored.
But in 2006, one of the teamâs standouts, Jonathan Pinque (pronounced Pink ) took special notice of the little boy with the unquenchable spirit.
For those who didnât look beyond the surface, Jonathan and Brenan seemed an unlikely pair of pals. Jonathan, relatively small for a running back and dark skinned, could cover the length of a football field in a blur of pumping muscles. Brenanâs fair skin freckled easily, and his gait was awkward. One was preparing to enter college, and the other was in elementary school.
Football was the common love that drew the two into a friendship, but what sealed the bond was something less tangible: shared courage and tenacity.
Brenan wouldnât learn until later that Jonathanâs life also had a rocky beginning.
In 2006, Brenan Ashmore (left), walked onto the football field at East Limestone High School hand-in-hand with Jonathan Pinque. Photograph by Kim Rynders, courtesy of the News Courier.
Coming to America
Jonathan was a toddler in a Haitian orphanage when Audrey Pinque, an American, saw him during a visit and fell in love with his bright smile. She adopted the child and brought him to this country. Jonathanâs mother and adopted brother, Antony, were white, but Jonathan seemed to fit with the blended family.
That didnât mean it was easy for Audrey.
Jonathan recalls one memorable Christmas: When Jonathan and Antony were about ten years old, the family was living temporarily in Mexico, before the move to Alabama. It was a tough year. Audrey was struggling and couldnât afford a Christmas tree. The three went out and found a dead tree, spraypainted it white and then made papier-mâché balls and popcorn strings for decorations.
It was one of the most beautiful trees Jonathan had ever seen.
A few days before Christmas, Audrey tearfully told the boys she hadnât been able to afford much, just a small gift each. She gave the packages to the boys early: a small bag of cookies.
As Audrey sat crying, Jonathan and Antony comforted her. They had a surprise for the mother who had sacrificed so much for them. A Cuban potter lived a few houses away, and the boys had stopped by his house and asked him to make a pot for Audrey. Each of the boysâ names was etched into the sides.
It was a Christmas none of them would forget.
After the family moved to Athens, Alabama, Jonathanâs life would change again. His adoptive familyâhis mother, brother, grandfather and uncleâpiled into the car one night to take Jonathan for dinner to celebrate his thirteenth birthday. There was a terrible crash, and his mother was killed.
The Unlikely Hero
Then, in 2005, Jonathan watched as his closest friends nearly drowned after their car plunged into a pond. He risked his life to pull two unconscious friends from the submerged car. In May 2006, Jonathan was awarded the Carnegie Medal for heroism.
When Jonathan entered his senior season as a running back for the Indians, Coach Jeff Pugh told the players about Brenanâs condition and pointed him out in the stands. Pugh, a friend of the Ashmores, had a special affection for Brenan. The coachâs description of a little boy whose life was so filled with challenges resonated with the young running back with the scarred past. Jonathan couldnât get Brenanâs smile out of his mind, and late one night, he called the Ashmore home.
Susan jumped when the phone rang. Who could be calling at midnight? It was
While Brenan knew his disorder would never allow him to play football, he played baseball for the Miracle League and loved to watch his favorite football team, the East Limestone High School Indians in Athens, Alabama. His dad, Pat, would take Brenan and Brenanâs brother, Cameron, to cheer the Indians each Friday night in the fall. Over the years, the coach and players grew accustomed to seeing Brenanâs wide grin when the Indians scored.
But in 2006, one of the teamâs standouts, Jonathan Pinque (pronounced Pink ) took special notice of the little boy with the unquenchable spirit.
For those who didnât look beyond the surface, Jonathan and Brenan seemed an unlikely pair of pals. Jonathan, relatively small for a running back and dark skinned, could cover the length of a football field in a blur of pumping muscles. Brenanâs fair skin freckled easily, and his gait was awkward. One was preparing to enter college, and the other was in elementary school.
Football was the common love that drew the two into a friendship, but what sealed the bond was something less tangible: shared courage and tenacity.
Brenan wouldnât learn until later that Jonathanâs life also had a rocky beginning.
In 2006, Brenan Ashmore (left), walked onto the football field at East Limestone High School hand-in-hand with Jonathan Pinque. Photograph by Kim Rynders, courtesy of the News Courier.
Coming to America
Jonathan was a toddler in a Haitian orphanage when Audrey Pinque, an American, saw him during a visit and fell in love with his bright smile. She adopted the child and brought him to this country. Jonathanâs mother and adopted brother, Antony, were white, but Jonathan seemed to fit with the blended family.
That didnât mean it was easy for Audrey.
Jonathan recalls one memorable Christmas: When Jonathan and Antony were about ten years old, the family was living temporarily in Mexico, before the move to Alabama. It was a tough year. Audrey was struggling and couldnât afford a Christmas tree. The three went out and found a dead tree, spraypainted it white and then made papier-mâché balls and popcorn strings for decorations.
It was one of the most beautiful trees Jonathan had ever seen.
A few days before Christmas, Audrey tearfully told the boys she hadnât been able to afford much, just a small gift each. She gave the packages to the boys early: a small bag of cookies.
As Audrey sat crying, Jonathan and Antony comforted her. They had a surprise for the mother who had sacrificed so much for them. A Cuban potter lived a few houses away, and the boys had stopped by his house and asked him to make a pot for Audrey. Each of the boysâ names was etched into the sides.
It was a Christmas none of them would forget.
After the family moved to Athens, Alabama, Jonathanâs life would change again. His adoptive familyâhis mother, brother, grandfather and uncleâpiled into the car one night to take Jonathan for dinner to celebrate his thirteenth birthday. There was a terrible crash, and his mother was killed.
The Unlikely Hero
Then, in 2005, Jonathan watched as his closest friends nearly drowned after their car plunged into a pond. He risked his life to pull two unconscious friends from the submerged car. In May 2006, Jonathan was awarded the Carnegie Medal for heroism.
When Jonathan entered his senior season as a running back for the Indians, Coach Jeff Pugh told the players about Brenanâs condition and pointed him out in the stands. Pugh, a friend of the Ashmores, had a special affection for Brenan. The coachâs description of a little boy whose life was so filled with challenges resonated with the young running back with the scarred past. Jonathan couldnât get Brenanâs smile out of his mind, and late one night, he called the Ashmore home.
Susan jumped when the phone rang. Who could be calling at midnight? It was
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