Meet Jarrett!
Jarrett completes the trio of children born to Diane Wilson and John Gill, with three years between each child. He was born in September 2001. Jarrett was a healthy child, who it had been previously determined through testing would not develop NCL. Love flowed even stronger with his arrival.
Jarrett was born into family dynamics that few can relate to. With two high special needs siblings, it was a very busy, chaotic home. He took it in stride, though there was little common ground with his school peers.
His siblings adored him and never complained when he squished them, climbing up into Carling’s wheelchair or rolling over on Colton, who he shared a bed with until he was too big to do so. He loved to shimmy his way up into Carling’s wheelchair to sit with her. His bond with his brother Colton was particularly strong. When he was seven, he was asked “what do you think you came to earth to do?” Jarrett calmly looked up and said, without hesitation, “I came to help.”
It was a very busy home, with a revolving door of support people and medical appointments. Jarrett’s independent nature was encouraged and flourished at an early age. After a neighbour introduced him to The Food Network at age three, his culinary journey began. Armed with his own vegetable chopper and cutting board, Jarrett tackled mounds of mushrooms, washing (sometimes with soap!) and chopping for the family meals. Celery was next, and he never looked back. He continues to thrive in the kitchen!
Jarrett also helped with the care of his older siblings. He thought syringing food into a G-tube extension was normal, and so shared Carling’s blended food with Colton. This was 2 years before Colton actually had a G-tube. We share with pride, he was a bit ahead of his time. Jarrett helped with transfers in and out of beds, worked the ceiling lift, toted oxygen tanks, and was given the job of showing the new night nurses who may only have had experience with wall dispensed oxygen in a hospital setting, how we positioned the tanks, and opened them with the key, then put them onto the oxygen re-filler for the next day. Just short of his ninth birthday, he joined in the tracheostomy training at Sick Kids for Colton, also receiving individual trach training as one of the caregivers in the home.con
Later, when he finally was allowed to play video games, he began to have more in common and socialize a more with his school peers. Jarrett joined Scouts and enjoyed outdoor activities, attending National Jambouree in 2013 in Sylvan Lake, Alberta.
After Colton’s passing in 2013, Jarrett was enrolled in the Arrowsmith schooling program. He and his Mom spent five months in White Rock, British Columbia then the second full school year was in Toronto. Returning to grade nine with his peers, Jarrett was thriving and so he boldly took another step forward – team sports! He was recruited two days after starting grade nine for his height (6’5”) and size (230lbs). After two years, he expanded his interests, participating in Productions and Drama, while also playing rugby. With coaching and tutoring he graduated grade 12 as an Ontario Scholar.
Jarrett explored college at Fanshawe and transferred to Sault College, in the Environmental Tech program. Currently in his twenties, he enjoys spending time in the outdoors, working with nature and his hands.
Jarrett continues to be a kind, strong helper.
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