Billboards call attention to fetal alcohol syndrome

Cars pass by a billboard on U.S. 491 erected by the city of Gallup warn of the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome. The city put up two of the billboards last week. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff Writer

GALLUP — "F.A.S. hurt me. Don't drink alcohol while pregnant."

That simple message is now greeting motorists as they drive into Gallup from the north on Highway 491. The message is from Gary Murphy, the former Gallup homeless man now living in Albuquerque who was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, and it's accompanied by his photograph.

It's also accompanied by a second simple message: "No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. No beer. No wine. No mixed drinks. Prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome."

The billboard is the work of Murphy and his friend, photographer Margo Manaraze Wagner, also a former Gallup resident who now lives in Albuquerque. The two met several years ago when Manaraze Wagner bought Murphy a plate of food on a cold, rainy day. She began to feature Murphy in her series of "Gallup Angel" photographs and eventually went on to make "Gary and the Angels," a documentary about Murphy's struggles with his FAS disabilities, his alcohol abuse, and his homelessness.

Through the assistance of Bob Rosebrough, Gallup's mayor, and Glen Benefield, the director of the Gallup Development Commission, the City of Gallup is lending two billboards to Manaraze Wagner's FAS awareness campaign. The second billboard, which features Murphy and the Gallup angel figure, is just west of Gallup on I-40. The law firm of Kenneth R. Wagner, Manaraze Wagner's husband, is sponsoring a third billboard north of Albuquerque featuring the image of a young pregnant woman drinking alcohol.

"We do want to get the billboards nationwide," said Manaraze Wagner. "It's not just a problem in New Mexico, it's a problem all over the country." She would even like to see liquor industry companies help by sponsoring more billboards.

According to Rosebrough and Benefield, the City of Gallup has a policy of lending its billboard space out to promote local events and organizations. They cited previous billboard space being lent to The Wild Thing bull riding competition, the Lion's Club Rodeo, the Wrangler Junior Rodeo, the Red Rock Balloon Rally, and the Gallup Talons basketball team.

"It's a worthwhile message," said Benefield. "It's actually a concern for pregnant women."

Rosebrough said donating billboard space to help direct people's attention to the "preventability of FAS" was particularly worthwhile.

Manaraze Wagner, who designed all three billboards, said she wanted to emphasize the message that all forms of alcoholic drinks beer, wine, and hard liquor can cause FAS or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which covers the range of permanent physical, mental, behavioral, and learning disabilities caused by alcohol passing through the placenta to the developing baby.

"Most people don't understand that any amount is unsafe," she said. According to Manaraze Wagner, FASD is the leading known preventable cause of mental retardation and birth defects and an estimated 40,000 babies are born each year with FASD. In addition, she said, FAS researchers have estimated the average lifetime cost to society of caring for an individual with FAS to be $2 million.

Based on her conversations with city officials, Manaraze Wagner believes the two Gallup billboards will be up for one year. "I'm proud of Gallup for taking a proactive stance on it," she said.

Poster children
In addition to the billboards, Manaraze Wagner has designed a set of posters that she is working to get distributed to schools across the state. She and Murphy are continuing to make presentations together at juvenile facilities to spread their FAS awareness message.

Murphy's personal journey continues to be marked by personal highs and lows as he bounces between periods of sobriety and periods of life on the street drinking. According to Manaraze Wagner, Murphy is currently in Albuquerque recovering from injuries he sustained after being hit by a car on Central Avenue. She said she didn't know if Murphy was intoxicated when the accident occurred. However, while in the hospital, she said, Murphy learned he has liver damage, and he is currently sober.

Manaraze Wagner said she filed a complaint in recent months with the Social Security Department because of Murphy's reports that members of his family take his money from his monthly Social Security check a claim Murphy made in the film "Gary and the Angels." Manaraze Wagner said Murphy now has money for food and clothing, and the two are searching for a group home or assisted living facility for him to move into soon.

"Every little decision is hard for him because of his brain damage," she said. "He can't handle choices easily." Murphy keeps in touch with her about three times a day on the cell phone she bought him, she added, including a "good night" call to Manaraze Wagner and her husband each evening.

As for the future, Manaraze Wagner said she plans to work to get a FAS awareness curriculum available for middle schools, junior high schools, and high schools in New Mexico through Extol, her charitable FAS awareness foundation.