_{*Quick Summary: The author recounts meeting child cancer warrior Jarrett Mynear, and the impact it had on his life.*}

Jarrett Mynear, the Founder of Jarrett’s Joy Cart was a hero of mine. He had cancer six times in his short life, the first when he was only 2 years old. He lived to be 13, but he had a huge impact in those few years. He passed away October 4, 2002. You can read more about him on his website: http://thejoycart.com/

I had the good fortune to meet Jarrett in April, 2001, and I can honestly say I haven’t had a “bad day” since. Meeting this young man and his family changed my life for the better, and seeing the courage they had to go through each day was incredibly inspiring. The events in his life, the pain, the surgeries, the days of recovery, everything he dealt with, he faced head-on and with a smile. I know beyond a doubt Jarrett is in Heaven, while knowing his impact on Earth was incredible.

Jarrett was a huge Jeff Gordon fan, and a family member contacted Hendrick Motorsports to see if we would bring a Jeff Gordon race car to his birthday celebration. Jimmy Johnson, the General Manager at the time, agreed to do it, and a few of us split the associated costs. Jimmy’s instructions to me were simple – do whatever needed to be done to bring Jarrett some happiness for at least one day. I feel as if I succeeded when I let Jarrett take the wheel for some old-fashioned parking lot burnouts. We hit a curb and dented a rocker panel with him steering, but it was worth it to see the smile on his face. It was an amazing day I will always remember.

*Edited March 25, 2019 to add links to two books about Jarrett:

The Joy Cart – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1588511448/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.HhMCbZ887QFK

The Boy Who Delivered Joy – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1642375500/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.IhMCbQPS9KKF

Here are a few photos from my visit with him: