Horry's Story - The Ashlyn Horry Foundation

July 22, 2010 - PRLog -- The Woodlands, TX - Seven-time NBA Champion, Robert Horry, was in The Woodlands at Guri Do Sul, mixing it up with the Montgomery County Hispanic Chamber, in an effort to raise awareness about the 1p36 Deletion Syndrome that afflicted his daughter, Ashlyn; a rare genetic condition that affects only 1 in 5,000 to 10,000 babies. Thus the Ashlyn Horry Foundation was established to raise funds for medical research.

As the celebrity bartender, Horry kept things on a light note as he mixed called drinks. He was good-natured in answering my barrage of insidious questions that he’s probably been asked time and time again.

Which championship team did you like playing on the best?

“I liked them all,” Horry said. “They had different chemistries & dynamics which made it fun and interesting.”

Robert Horry is one of only three players to win consecutive NBA Championships with two different teams, and he joins John Salley as the only two players to win NBA rings with three different teams. When asked which championship ring was the most significant?

“The second one with the Rockets,” Horry replied without hesitation. “It’s the ugliest ring, but the Rockets were the 6th seed, had no home court advantage throughout the playoffs, they went up against six Hall-of-Famers, and we beat them all.”

What was the low moment in your career?

“The Rockets were seasoned and poised to win a third championship, and Sam Cassell, myself, Chucky Brown, and Mark Bryant, were traded for Charles Barkley,” Horry remarked.

Needless to say, the Rockets didn’t win a third championship as a result of one of the most questionable trades in NBA history. Who were his basketball idols?

“Magic Johnson and Scotty Pippin; they’re the only two players whose posters I’ve ever had,” stated Horry.

Why these two?

“They weren’t defined by one position. They were all-round players. A good basketball player should be able to play any position. I wanted to be that kind of player,” Horry replied.

Because of his clutch shooting in important games, Horry earned the nickname "Big Shot Rob".  Horry is second on the all-time list of three-pointers made in the playoffs, behind only Reggie Miller. He holds the record for three-pointers all-time in the NBA Finals with 53, eclipsing Michael Jordan’s record of 42. Horry is also the all-time leader in playoff games played, having surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He now resides in Sugar Land, and works as a commentator on ESPN in addition to owning the “Ajuua” Restaurant in San Antonio.

But then it was time to talk about who Horry says is the real champion in his family…Ashlyn Horry. Ashlyn is now fifteen years of age. In her short lifetime she has had an exorbitant number of tests, numerous surgeries, and several near death experiences, and all because of the 1p36 Deletion Syndrome.

The 1p36 Deletion Syndrome gets its unusual name due to a genetic condition caused by a missing part of chromosome number 1. The ‘p36’ indicates that the missing piece is on the short arm (p) of the 1 chromosome at band 36. This deletion causes seizures and vision problems, and can result in growth and developmental delays, and sometimes specific facial features.

What causes a gorgeous woman and a perfect, athletic specimen of a man to have a child with this rare syndrome? What we do know is that the difference between 1p36 Deletion Syndrome, and some of the other syndromes like Angelman, Down,  Edwards, and Rett, is that different chromosomes are affected. What we don’t know is the root cause of these syndromes. Each syndrome had its own unique side effects and disabilities, and each one is rare. But when you compound the number of babies being born with these and other syndromes, it’s a significant number of children and families affected.

There is currently no cure for the 1p36 Deletion Syndrome and surprisingly, no there’s no specific treatment either. All that Robert Horry and anyone else affected by this syndrome can do, is grow the awareness and approach a cure with the same drive and determination required to win championships. For more information about the 1p36 Deletion Syndrome and to read Ashlyn Horry’s story, go to www.ashlynhorryfoundation.org

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