non-profit spotlight:
JARRETT'S JOY CART
by Lauren Rogers | photos courtesy of Jarrett's Joy Cart Jarrett Mynear of Jarrett’s Joy Cart was born destined for greatness. Although some would say Jarrett was robbed from a normal childhood due to Ewing Sarcoma – a rare bone cancer diagnosis – the word “normal” was never fitting to describe Jarrett in any capacity. He was always extraordinary. Exceptional. An old soul, wise beyond his years. And a force of joy to be reckoned with. Jarrett was an angel shared for a fleeting moment, who blessed those around him with kindness and gifts of love. This selflessness and effervescent positivity in the face of extreme adversity forever made Jarrett a legend – not just in Lexington, but around the nation. At just 2-years-old, Jarrett lost his leg to cancer. Three years later, he received a bone-marrow transplant when the Ewings returned for the first time. Multiple diagnoses and aggressive treatments resulted in a secondary cancer at age 9, myelodyspla-
sia. He received a bone-marrow transplant from his incredibly courageous sister, Claire, that extended his life for four more years. By the time he reached age 13, he had been diagnosed with and treated for Ewings 5 times. None of this stopped Jarrett from spreading joy and light to others in need. Inspired by his own experience receiving toys and trinkets as a patient in a Seattle hospital at age 5, Jarrett began lobbying local Lexington businesses for donations in order to spread the same joy locally. Toys started pouring in. Thus, in 1999, Jarrett’s Joy Cart was born. Each Tuesday night, Jarrett would fill up a cart with the donated goodies and walk the halls of the UK Healthcare Children’s Hospital (KCH) letting each of the 50 plus patients (ages 0 - 18) he visited choose a toy. In his own words, Jarrett explained, “The Joy Cart is not just about giving the children toys; it’s mostly about having something for them to look forward to.”
November 2019 | TOPSinLex.com
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