Jack Ridgeway
Jack Ridgeway
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Age: 7
Location:
West St near 4th Ave
Flagstaff , AZ
United States
Someone installed a ghost bike in memory of Jack
From the AZ Daily Sun
Jack Ridgeway died Friday, but now, other children may live.
Jack, 7, was struck by a truck on Aug. 9 while he rode his
bicycle on North West Street near East Fourth Avenue. He was
declared brain dead shortly after from the devastating whiplash,
but his parents kept him on life support through the week so he
could donate his organs.
There's a 2-year-old boy in Texas who will get his heart, a
little girl in Indiana who will get his intestine, gall bladder and
liver, and a 19-year-old woman in Phoenix who will get a kidney.
Somebody else in Utah will get his other kidney.
The heart connection is extra special to his mother, Jenni. Jack
was a loving child who liked to give hugs. He also didn't sit
still.
"He's got this 2-year-old little boy that's gonna come out of
the hospital running all over the place and the parents are gonna
wonder where it came from," she said. "All they have to do is call
me and find out."
WANTED TO BE A PRO RIDER
Jack Edward Ridgeway would have turned 8 this past Saturday and
would have started third grade at DeMiguel Elementary this
Thursday. He is survived by his mother, father Eric, sister
Harmony, 12, and extended family.
Jack was what people call "all boy." He liked the Green Lantern
and Guitar Hero and knew every one of his Hot Wheels cars. He
played Little League and had no fear. His little boy dream was to
become a famous BMX or dirt bike rider.
He was rambunctious, his dad's "little manimal," swirling around
inside a big cloud of energy -- he wasn't a chatterbox, but like a
train nearing the bend, you knew when he was coming, his mom said.
He was also generous, helping himself to his dad's spare change to
buy snacks for his friends. He told his mother daily that he loved
her.
One of his favorite things to do was ride his green and silver
bike in his neighborhood.
Jack was out riding with another boy at about 6 p.m. There was
still plenty of light.
The driver, in a full-sized pickup truck, was traveling on West,
a through street with no stop signs or signals. There was also no
sidewalk where the boys were riding. The speed limit in the area is
25 mph.
Jack knew to stay close to his home near Main and Second and was
told that crossing West was dangerous. But he went a few blocks
farther this time.
About half an hour after the collision, his mom and sister set
out to find him. When Jenni found the police roadblock, she asked a
bystander what happened. She heard that a 10-year-old boy on a
green and silver bike had been hit.
Are you sure, Jenni asked, if he was 10? Her son was tall for
his age. But then she saw his bike in the road.
Flagstaff Police say no citations have been issued at this time
as the investigation is ongoing.
A SELFLESS CHOICE
Although Jack wasn't wearing a helmet when he was struck, he
didn't appear to badly hit his head and his brain injury was what
is called a closed head injury, caused by the violent jarring.
He lost consciousness quickly and by Wednesday showed no brain
activity.
His doctor suggested organ donation. Jenni immediately said
yes.
"It would have been selfish not to donate his organs," she
said.
He will be cremated and scattered in the outdoors where he liked
to have fun. There will be no formal memorial service. A memorial
fund has been set up in his name at Arizona Central Credit
Union.
Jack had been looking forward to his birthday party Saturday at
the bowling alley with cousins and family friends. The party went
on.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Age: 7
Location:
West St near 4th Ave
Flagstaff , AZ
United States
Someone installed a ghost bike in memory of Jack
From the AZ Daily Sun
Jack Ridgeway died Friday, but now, other children may live.
Jack, 7, was struck by a truck on Aug. 9 while he rode his
bicycle on North West Street near East Fourth Avenue. He was
declared brain dead shortly after from the devastating whiplash,
but his parents kept him on life support through the week so he
could donate his organs.
There's a 2-year-old boy in Texas who will get his heart, a
little girl in Indiana who will get his intestine, gall bladder and
liver, and a 19-year-old woman in Phoenix who will get a kidney.
Somebody else in Utah will get his other kidney.
The heart connection is extra special to his mother, Jenni. Jack
was a loving child who liked to give hugs. He also didn't sit
still.
"He's got this 2-year-old little boy that's gonna come out of
the hospital running all over the place and the parents are gonna
wonder where it came from," she said. "All they have to do is call
me and find out."
WANTED TO BE A PRO RIDER
Jack Edward Ridgeway would have turned 8 this past Saturday and
would have started third grade at DeMiguel Elementary this
Thursday. He is survived by his mother, father Eric, sister
Harmony, 12, and extended family.
Jack was what people call "all boy." He liked the Green Lantern
and Guitar Hero and knew every one of his Hot Wheels cars. He
played Little League and had no fear. His little boy dream was to
become a famous BMX or dirt bike rider.
He was rambunctious, his dad's "little manimal," swirling around
inside a big cloud of energy -- he wasn't a chatterbox, but like a
train nearing the bend, you knew when he was coming, his mom said.
He was also generous, helping himself to his dad's spare change to
buy snacks for his friends. He told his mother daily that he loved
her.
One of his favorite things to do was ride his green and silver
bike in his neighborhood.
Jack was out riding with another boy at about 6 p.m. There was
still plenty of light.
The driver, in a full-sized pickup truck, was traveling on West,
a through street with no stop signs or signals. There was also no
sidewalk where the boys were riding. The speed limit in the area is
25 mph.
Jack knew to stay close to his home near Main and Second and was
told that crossing West was dangerous. But he went a few blocks
farther this time.
About half an hour after the collision, his mom and sister set
out to find him. When Jenni found the police roadblock, she asked a
bystander what happened. She heard that a 10-year-old boy on a
green and silver bike had been hit.
Are you sure, Jenni asked, if he was 10? Her son was tall for
his age. But then she saw his bike in the road.
Flagstaff Police say no citations have been issued at this time
as the investigation is ongoing.
A SELFLESS CHOICE
Although Jack wasn't wearing a helmet when he was struck, he
didn't appear to badly hit his head and his brain injury was what
is called a closed head injury, caused by the violent jarring.
He lost consciousness quickly and by Wednesday showed no brain
activity.
His doctor suggested organ donation. Jenni immediately said
yes.
"It would have been selfish not to donate his organs," she
said.
He will be cremated and scattered in the outdoors where he liked
to have fun. There will be no formal memorial service. A memorial
fund has been set up in his name at Arizona Central Credit
Union.
Jack had been looking forward to his birthday party Saturday at
the bowling alley with cousins and family friends. The party went
on.