HVAC Insider Newspaper

The Following was published in the Florida November 2010 Edition of the HVAC Insider Newspaper. It was written by the Associate Director, Walter Arnett.

“On December 8, 1999 in the mornings' early hours, a young man that was driving while drunk hit another car. The 19 year old young lady driving the second vehicle was seriously injured with very little chance of surviving. A miracle happened and she lived, but remained in a coma for 4 months. When she finally regained consciousness she was permanently paralyzed. Her name is Jewels Rogers and she lives in the Jacksonville area with her loving and caring mother, Mary Lou.

In late spring of 2000, I received a call from Coke Rosebro, then of Gemaire Distributors, advising me of Jewels' situation. A local building contractor, that I regretfully can't remember the name of, was donating some remodeling on Mary Lou' house to make caring for Jewels' needs easier, and Sonnys' Service Co. was donating the heating & air conditioning installation. Gemaire added to the cause with the donation of a new Rheem system.

I went to Jacksonville and met with Coke and Sonny to do a story on Jewels and how the community businesses and her church were helping this family in their time of need. That was 10 years ago, but I still remember the radiant glow of Jewels' smile when Mary Lou introduced me to her.

Last week, the week of Thanksgiving, my phone rang and to my happy surprise, it was Mary Lou. I could tell by her voice that she was still as upbeat and caring as she was in 2000 when I first met her. The news is, Jewels is a happy and productive young lady. She is still paralyzed and has a very hard time talking, but enjoys her visits with everyone.

She, working through Mary Lou, has written several children’s books and is presently working on another. Following what seems to be becoming a family tradition, Mary Lou is also writing a book about her life with Jewels. Knowing these two delightful ladies, I am sure it will be very upbeat and positive, as well as a tremendous literary success. I look forward to getting a copy when it is finished.

I ask each of you to give thoughts and thanks for having super people like Jewels and Mary Lou in this world to be friends with. Jewels has only friends, no strangers, in her life, and Coke, Sonny, Gemaire and I appreciate being considered among them. "