In the blink of an eye, the dream turned to a nightmare.

The Murphy family of Lafayette, Louisiana had always dreamt of a trip to the World Cup. This summer, after three years of meticulous planning, Danny Murphy and his four youngest children finally set out to South Africa for the trip of a lifetime.

Willie Davis, Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at LSU and a longtime friend of the Murphys, understands what the journey meant to the family.

“It was a wish come true,” he said. “They started playing soccer when they were young –at first because Danny thought it would help their footwork for tennis – but they immediately fell in love with soccer, and all six kids ended up playing. Their soccer roots run deep.”

Davis coached Nicole Murphy, 24, at Baton Rouge SA for eight years, and watched her win a national championship with the University of Tampa in 2007. He helped recruit Kellie, 21, and Danielle, 17, to the current LSU women’s team. Their brother Brian, 19, and father Danny have been soccer enthusiasts for years.

Their World Cup summer set up perfectly: tickets to three games in the group stage, the final, and weeks of adventure and unforgettable experiences in South Africa.

But June 15th changed everything.

After an evening match, the Murphys celebrated at a Cape Town pub when Danny Murphy took his youngest, Danielle, back to the hotel. Brian, Kellie and Nicole stayed at the pub a while longer, savoring the World Cup experience, chatting and swapping stories with other soccer fans.

But as they strolled back to the hotel, a drunk driver veered onto the walkway and slammed into them. Nicole was killed instantly. Brian suffered severe head injuries, while Kellie escaped with a concussion.

Now, while coming to terms with this unimaginable tragedy, the Murphy family faces another nightmare – the logistical challenge of bringing Brian, who remains in South Africa in a medically-induced coma, back home to Louisiana.

Nicole’s body arrived in Lafayette last week, but the Murphys are desperate to bring Brian home, to care for him and so the whole family can be together for Nicole’s funeral.

Their insurance company refuses to foot Brian’s transportation bill, which runs upwards of $300,000.

The majority of the transportation money is being raised by the Murphys’ friends in Louisiana and ordinary people like you and me – and everyone has a chance to contribute.

“A situation like this is terrible for any family, but it’s just unimaginable for a group as close as the Murphys,” said coach Davis. “Nicole was a loving, generous and extremely talented person, and this family deserves so much better. The family is just staying strong, doing everything they can to get Brian home and cope with this horrible situation.”

For those who wish to make a contribution to assist the Murphy family, a fund has been set up through Home Bank in Lafayette, Louisiana.

A check (with account number 2057873802 clearly labeled) can be mailed to:
 
Home Bank

Attn: Murphy Family Support Fund

P.O. Box 81459

Lafayette, LA  70598

For more information about the Murphy Family Support Fund, please contact account coordinator Nick Zaunbrecher at (337) 781-8494 or Home Bank at (337) 237-1960.