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!!

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