It is almost miraculous. Five weeks ago, Judge Matt Fridy was rushed to the hospital with a major heart attack. It was touch and go as to whether he would survive.
Just five weeks later, he was a panel speaker on Thursday at the Christian Legal Society of Birmingham. Alabama Supreme Court justices Greg Cook and Chris McCool joined him on the panel.
Looking at the photo of the three speakers, it is hard for someone who didn't know to guess that one of them just recovered from a major heart attack.
The 49-year-old had suffered a heart attack on April 15. He remained hospitalized and in rehab for three weeks and was then released to his home.
Fridy had been a lawyer with Birmingham's Wallace-Jordan firm. He had run unsuccessfully for state chairman of the Alabama Republican Party.
Fridy was first elected to State House District 73 in 2014, representing Alabaster, Helena, Montevallo and Pelham. It was very much a home district for Fridy as he graduated from the University of Montevallo. He now serves on the University of Montevallo's Board of Trustees.
He was re-elected in 2018 but served only two years of that term. In 2020, statewide voters elevated him to the Court of Civil Appeals, where he still serves.
While recovering in the hospital, Fridy had posted:
"Roughly 805,000 heart attacks occur in the U.S. each year, so my experience is not unique or any more important than millions of others who have survived and recovered," he outlined, adding, "I am reminded of the words of Jeremiah 17:14, which tell us: 'Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.'"
Jim' Zig' Zeigler's beat is colorful and positive about Alabama—its people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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