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A special party
Published November 21, 2009
Eleven years ago, a young boy from Texas saw his childhood dreams realized.
On Tuesday, that same boy saw a birthday he wasn’t ever expected to reach and was given a grand celebration at a place he might expect — a WalMart store.
Around 100 people gathered around inside the Scottsboro WalMart Tuesday afternoon to celebrate Jack Scott’s 19th birthday with him.
Some were friends and neighbors, some were employees of the local store and others were truck drivers from across the country.
The hour and a half long celebration came with many applause, tears and gifts for the Hollywood resident. Jack simply said having a good time was his favorite part of the whole day.
Jack’s relationship with WalMart and the men and women gathered at the Scottsboro retail store this week to celebrate his life goes way back.
Jack was diagnosed with severe pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary vascular disease and patent ductor ateriorosus—three illnesses that deprive his body of oxygen, weakening his heart and other organs. His condition is considered terminal.
When Jack was 7 years old, he made a wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation to be a WalMart truck driver after having seen the drivers unloading their cargo at a 24-hour store in Palestine, Texas.
Penny Weaver, Jack’s aunt and legal guardian who he calls “Mom,” said she had to take Jack for a non-sleep EEG test — a test that required the young boy to stay awake for a full 24 hours.
Not knowing what to do, Weaver said she took Jack to the WalMart store, where the manager let Jack ride a tricycle around the store, made him a special name badge and let him watch drivers unload the day’s cargo shipments.
Jack was hooked.
After making his desires known, he was made an honorary truck driver for the company and was allowed to ride shotgun on a nine-hour delivery from Temple to Palestine, Texas.
“I think Jack looks just like he did when he was (age) 7. It’s the same face,” said Glenda Duvall, a now retired WalMart driver who took Jack on that first ride on August 7, 1998. Duvall said Tuesday was the first time she’s seen Jack since she met him 11 years ago.
The retail giant has since started a volunteer program help people with chronic medical conditions called “WalMart Heart.”
Jack’s story started it all.
Phillip Hargrove, a WalMart driver from Cullman and co-founder of the WalMart Heart program, met Jack in 2005.
“That’s when we got together and started with Jack,” Hargrove said.
In the intervening four years, a tight bond has grown between the two, keeping in touch several times a month and seeing each other, Hargrove estimates, six to seven times a year.
“Well, he’s like my own son,” Hargrove said. “He’s just a very special young man.”
Hargrove said he has two daughters and four grandchildren of his own,but said Jack is just part of the family.
“He just makes me see how blessed I really am,” Hargrove said.
Before moving Tuesday’s festivities to Faith Covenant Church of God, the party moved outside the store where a new WalMart Heart truck was revealed. The truck is covered with pictures of children the program has worked with, and Jack’s picture solely adorns the back of the vehicle.
Putting the Jack’s picture on the truck is fitting—he embodies the true spirit of the program he inspired.
Hargrove said Jack gave his grandson a bicycle, saying he couldn’t use it any longer and wanted him to have it.
“One of the things he treasured the most—he just gave it to my grandson,” Hargrove said. “He just makes me strive to have half the heart he’s got.”
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