Greetings all,
Well, I spoke to JD last night and they got biopsy results back on Garrett. The news was not what they wanted to hear.
For JD's posts, you can check them out on my other site or his. Keep Garrett and the family in your prayers!!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Greetings all. My journey to Colorado Springs went off almost without a hitch. I left my home in eastern Pennsylvania at 03:15 AM on the 21st. I stopped in Kansas City, Kansas 22 hours later for some rest.
I woke up the next morning to a very intense thunderstorm. I rolled over and went back to sleep for a while longer. Once the showers had passed, I saddled up and continued west. Early that afternoon in western Kansas the skies turned black and the wind came up. I turned on the weather radio to hear Tornado Warnings being posted along my route.
I was able to skirt two major storm cells unscathed to then run into something I have never come up against in all my trips across county. 45 to 60 mph cross winds and dust storms. I traveled the next 200 miles at a 45 degree angle to keep a semi-straight line.
I was on a mission however. I arrived at JD's house at 6:00 PM and was greeted immediately by two young Ross's. Jessi and Garrett came running out of the house and gave me a tremendous "hello".
It was so good to see my friends and their children living a NORMAL life again. Normal on the outside, however. They have so many challenges ahead of them, but with Gods strength, I know they will persevere.
My wife Lisa had flown into Denver the night before and now joined us for a fantastic evening of friendship and love.
Lisa and I not only brought a check for JD and Kathy, we brought two very special stuffed animals for the children. Lisa gave Jessi and stuffed rabbit that she has has since she was a little girl. I presented Garrett with a Pennsylvania State Police Bear ( in full uniform of course ). This bear I purchased when I had gotten out of the academy in 1987.
I continue to get emails and phone calls from people that want to still donate to the Garrett Ross Fund. I will continue my efforts to raise money to assist in Garrett's medical bill.
I can't begin to tell you how appreciative the Ross's are for the support that you all have shown them.
I also want to again thank all of you for your support.
It is getting late and this has been the first opportunity I have had to log on since I left PA. JD has a lot more information on Garrett and another young boy who tragically died last Friday. This young boy's parents donated his organs and have saved the lives of three others in doing so.
For all of these updates, go to JD's LINK to Garrett to get caught up.
Doug
I woke up the next morning to a very intense thunderstorm. I rolled over and went back to sleep for a while longer. Once the showers had passed, I saddled up and continued west. Early that afternoon in western Kansas the skies turned black and the wind came up. I turned on the weather radio to hear Tornado Warnings being posted along my route.
I was able to skirt two major storm cells unscathed to then run into something I have never come up against in all my trips across county. 45 to 60 mph cross winds and dust storms. I traveled the next 200 miles at a 45 degree angle to keep a semi-straight line.
I was on a mission however. I arrived at JD's house at 6:00 PM and was greeted immediately by two young Ross's. Jessi and Garrett came running out of the house and gave me a tremendous "hello".
It was so good to see my friends and their children living a NORMAL life again. Normal on the outside, however. They have so many challenges ahead of them, but with Gods strength, I know they will persevere.
My wife Lisa had flown into Denver the night before and now joined us for a fantastic evening of friendship and love.
Lisa and I not only brought a check for JD and Kathy, we brought two very special stuffed animals for the children. Lisa gave Jessi and stuffed rabbit that she has has since she was a little girl. I presented Garrett with a Pennsylvania State Police Bear ( in full uniform of course ). This bear I purchased when I had gotten out of the academy in 1987.
I continue to get emails and phone calls from people that want to still donate to the Garrett Ross Fund. I will continue my efforts to raise money to assist in Garrett's medical bill.
I can't begin to tell you how appreciative the Ross's are for the support that you all have shown them.
I also want to again thank all of you for your support.
It is getting late and this has been the first opportunity I have had to log on since I left PA. JD has a lot more information on Garrett and another young boy who tragically died last Friday. This young boy's parents donated his organs and have saved the lives of three others in doing so.
For all of these updates, go to JD's LINK to Garrett to get caught up.
Doug
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Greetings all, JD has a new update on Garrett. Check it out on JD's Journal. Because of scheduling problems, it turns out that I will be making a solo motorcycle run to Denver on May 20th. It won't be the first time I have made this trip by myself and I'm on a mission!!
Keep the donations coming. Thanks to all that have donated so far.
Keep the donations coming. Thanks to all that have donated so far.
Friday, April 25, 2008
JD has an update. Check it out on JD's Journal. Also, don't forget to check out his blog at:
http://www.garrettsjourney.blogspot.com/
http://www.garrettsjourney.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Update:
Check out JD's Journal for the latest information on Garrett. Also, JD now has his own Blog about Garrett.
http://www.garrettsjourney.blogspot.com/
Check out JD's Journal for the latest information on Garrett. Also, JD now has his own Blog about Garrett.
http://www.garrettsjourney.blogspot.com/
Thursday, April 17, 2008
I spoke with JD last night. I asked him to provide me with more detail as to Garrett's history. JD had written an article about Garrett's first year of life back in June of 1999. I have posted it in JD's Journal. Please take a moment to read it.
WARNING!! Have a box of Kleenex at hand before you start to read.
WARNING!! Have a box of Kleenex at hand before you start to read.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
I have started this Blog in order for all to read about Garrett Ross's new lease on life at age 8 with his third heart. Yes, his third!!
In January of 2000, Garrett received a donor heart. Garrett was seven months old at the time. The Ross family traveled from their home outside of Colorado Springs to the Children's Hospital in Denver for this procedure. They would spend the next six months living in Denver while Garrett recuperated.
Fast forward to February, 2008. Garrett started to have problems and was not feeling well. They traveled to Denver again and it was determined that Garrett's heart was failing. The prognosis was not good. Garrett needed a new heart.
Three days later a donor was located right there at Children's Hospital. His name was Darren and he was only 15 years old. ( You can read all about this wonderful boy in JD's Journal ).
March 1, Garrett received Darren's heart.
On March 7, John (also known as JD) started a journal of Garrett's recovery process and emailed this to his friends. (see JD's Journal at top right of this page)
JD and I have been friends since we started our law enforcement careers together at Colorado State University. Post graduation would see me move back to Pennsylvania and eventually become a Trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police. JD went on to become an officer with the Boulder City Police Department. From there he moved back to his home area of El Paso County in Colorado Springs and is currently a Lieutenant with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
When I am out west I always try and stop by their house to visit. I can remember Garrett at the age of 4 riding on my back as a cowboy while I played bucking bronco.
In reading JD's emails, I was overwhelmed with their faith in God and I realized that I have so much to be thankful for. I was absolutely compelled to do something to help them. JD and Kathy spent over a quarter of a million dollars out of pocket in 2000 when Garrett received his FIRST heart. I can't imagine what this will total. Remember people, you can have the best insurance in the world but it doesn't cover everything.
I have started a fund to help out the Ross family. I will be asking for donations and on Memorial Day weekend, along with a couple of friends, we will jump on our motorcycles and ride to Denver to present them with a check.
I have included a link on the upper right side of this page to JD's Journal. PLEASE take the time to read them!!
To leave a comment on this Blog, click on "Post Comments" at the bottom.
In January of 2000, Garrett received a donor heart. Garrett was seven months old at the time. The Ross family traveled from their home outside of Colorado Springs to the Children's Hospital in Denver for this procedure. They would spend the next six months living in Denver while Garrett recuperated.
Fast forward to February, 2008. Garrett started to have problems and was not feeling well. They traveled to Denver again and it was determined that Garrett's heart was failing. The prognosis was not good. Garrett needed a new heart.
Three days later a donor was located right there at Children's Hospital. His name was Darren and he was only 15 years old. ( You can read all about this wonderful boy in JD's Journal ).
March 1, Garrett received Darren's heart.
On March 7, John (also known as JD) started a journal of Garrett's recovery process and emailed this to his friends. (see JD's Journal at top right of this page)
JD and I have been friends since we started our law enforcement careers together at Colorado State University. Post graduation would see me move back to Pennsylvania and eventually become a Trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police. JD went on to become an officer with the Boulder City Police Department. From there he moved back to his home area of El Paso County in Colorado Springs and is currently a Lieutenant with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
When I am out west I always try and stop by their house to visit. I can remember Garrett at the age of 4 riding on my back as a cowboy while I played bucking bronco.
In reading JD's emails, I was overwhelmed with their faith in God and I realized that I have so much to be thankful for. I was absolutely compelled to do something to help them. JD and Kathy spent over a quarter of a million dollars out of pocket in 2000 when Garrett received his FIRST heart. I can't imagine what this will total. Remember people, you can have the best insurance in the world but it doesn't cover everything.
I have started a fund to help out the Ross family. I will be asking for donations and on Memorial Day weekend, along with a couple of friends, we will jump on our motorcycles and ride to Denver to present them with a check.
I have included a link on the upper right side of this page to JD's Journal. PLEASE take the time to read them!!
To leave a comment on this Blog, click on "Post Comments" at the bottom.
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