How to use variable in flash message

[eluser]debow[/eluser]
Can someone help with the below issue. All I'm wanting to do is use the users first name that gets deleted in the message after they are deleted.

Code:

function pdelete($options = array()) {
        // required values
        if (!$this->_required(array('athId'), $options))return false;
        
        $name = $options['athfirst'];
        
        //$this->db->where('athId', $options['athId']);
        //$this->db->delete($this->athlete);
        
        $message = "<p class='successmsg'> User .$name.  has been deleted</p>";
        $this->session->set_flashdata('message', $message);
        
    }

The $name is not showing up at all. I know I doing something wrong but not sure what. I've tried it many different ways.