I was to impressed with Gary that I made him my Hero before the beginning of the month. But make no mistake, Gary Johnson is my one and only Out for Good Hero For August, and Dover’s World is still as committed as ever to finding him his new driving pony and making his dreams come true! So if you missed it the first time around, may I introduce you again to my friend and Hero, Gary Johnson.

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Every once in a while someone comes into your life and reminds you of just how all of us were meant to be - LOVING, CARING, GIVING, COMPASSIONATE, RESILIENT and FORGIVING.
I was up in Gladstone for the National Championships to watch and work with many of our top riders to help them improve their scores. Naturally, in doing so, I directed all my attention and energy to every possible detail of both riders and horses, obsessing over half-passes, flying changes, weather, and footing. But then I received word from my good friend, Maureen Pethick, that Gary Johnson wanted to come by to meet me. Maureen had to remind me who this young man was, but a few hours later everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, became crystal clear!

Gary walked in with the biggest smile imaginable and proceeded to tell me about his passion for driving and the fun and excitement he has by competing. Sounds all so normal-right?

But Gary’s situation is anything but normal. He has surmounted life-threatening challages as well as emotionally traumatic times which no adult, no less a child, should ever have to experience. But, as often seems the case, children like Gary have a wisdom and grace which belies their years and clearly comes from a higher source. Nothing in Gary’s demeanor makes one believe he spends even a minute feeling sorry for himself, though I would have thought it more than reasonable. This wonderful kid just wants to look for everything good in people and especially takes pride in his huge accomplishments as a driver. And He is ever so thankful to people like Shelly Zlotkin, Mary de Stefano, Bonnie Jenkins, Maureen, and others who work with an organization called, “Sharing Village Survivor Groups” (details below) which has brought horses and driving into his life. One of the USET’s top international competitors, Jimmy Fairclough and his wife, Robin, had donated their son, Ryan’s pony, Boxcar Willy, to the program. But, sadly, the pony which Gary bonded so beautifully with recently had to be put down, due to complications from Cushing’s Disease. Gary was crushed, just as any one of us would have been to have lost his friend and partner, but still continues to show incredible strength and wisdom beyond measure.

I am publishing Gary’s story below in its entirety along with my personal plea to all my Dover’s World readers and friends to help me find and secure a new pony for Gary Johnson, my “Out For Good Hero” for August!

I am absolutely positive we can all put our heads and hearts together and accomplish this goal in record time. So, if ever you thought about doing a great deed, now is your chance! Contact information for Shelly at Sharingvillage.org is below or you can always contact me right here at DoversWorld.com.
And, Gary, THANK YOU for reminding me that I want to be more like you!

RD

Gary Johnson Age 16

We can only presume to know what those early years were like. We begin the story as we know it when Gary enters middle school and comes to the attention of his school nurse.

Reported by Mary de Stefano RN

I met Gary my first year in the East Orange school system seven years ago; I am a school nurse. His health record indicated he was living with a guardian; later I was told by his child study team caseworker that his parents were dead; he had no siblings; his mother’s sister was his now guardian. His first guardian was his grandmother who could not care for him following the death of his parents, her son and daughter in law.

Gary was a sixth grade student in a special education class and periodically one of the classroom aides would bring him to the Health Office because he was not feeling well.  Gary was a charming young man, with a warm smile, even when he had a headache or a fever. A Michael Jackson look alike. I came to know him better because his guardian could rarely come to pick him up for home because of multiple work commitments.  It was not uncommon for Gary to spend a good part of the day lying on a cot in my office, either until he felt better or until the end of the day or he could go home.

Notable during this year was a large protrusion, about the size of a tangerine, from the left side of his jaw, a manifestation of his lymphoma.  When I spoke to his guardian about it that first year, she told me the doctors were not planning to do anything about it because it was not large enough.  Perhaps because of this obvious physical defect it seemed the other kids in his class avoided him; he certainly did not seem to have any friends other than the aide and his teacher.  Conversation with Gary was difficult as if there was just too much he really did not wish to share.

When Gary returned in September for 7th grade, his neck tumor was larger.  Gary became more withdrawn and quiet; he was in the Health Office more with complaints of not feeling well. He was losing weight. He could not eat.  The feedback from the teachers was that he was not doing well in school.  I called his guardian to express my concern and my sense that he needed medical attention.  The growth continued to expand; Gary continued to regress emotionally, physically and academically. Finally, in total exacerbation, I called his guardian and asked for the name and phone number of his physician so I could call directly to express my concerns.

I don’t really remember so far back how it all came together, but progress was made and the next thing I heard from the case manager was that Gary was at Johns Hopkins for surgery and chemotherapy. He returns there annually for a week of evaluation. Overall that surgery went well and the chemotherapy was working.

September of 8th grade, Gary returned to school a new man.  No more protrusions and Gary was so much more alert and vibrant.  I just remember his smile coming back bigger and better than ever.  He was more focused and his academics were back on track.

About this time, I happened to be a charity Polo Match where I saw Shelley with her 10 little “munchkins” and their miniature driving ponies performing to the applause of the crowd. The wind was ferocious and the ponies and kids remained unflappable amongst the blowing tents and ladies hats.

Shelley explained her own transmigration. Multiple illnesses, over 30 total joint replacements and overlapping life threatening illnesses. Her current focus was clearly SharingVillage and the strength of teaching thru horses the art of survivorship. Remembering Gary’s superior upper body strength from hauling his teenage body around on crutches, I had a Eureka moment thinking this program could be the great opportunity for Gary.

I asked Gary if he would like to consider driving a pony in a cart; I remember him not really understanding what I was trying to explain to him, but having faith in me and my adventures, he was willing to drive out to the barn to meet Shelley and see if driving a pony would be something he would like to do.  He actually did get to sit in a cart and drive that day; I know he did not want to leave the cart and the barn at the end of the day…. he bonded with driver, pony, barn, Shelley and the rest is history…with immeasurable thanks to Shelley and her wonderful team who managed to figure out the logistics of getting Gary for the last 4 years to the healing of those ponies.

Mary de Stefano, MA, RN

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Posted: Sunday, August 2nd, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Filed under: Dover's Dream's....And Yours, Out For Good, Uncategorized