talk about genoristy....

For what its worth i just wanted to share this with you... It takes a lot for me to be lost for words... but yesterday someones generosity really left me speechless...

Many of you don't know this, but my four year old son is severely mentally and physically disabled, on his 2nd birthday he was diagnosed with a very rare genetic condition called Angelman Syndrome, its unlikely he will ever talk or walk un-aided - despite his condition he's one of the bravest, happiest and coolest little boys i have known and he's also one of the reasons i have moved my business back to the house so as i can spend more time with him. As you can probably tell i am extremely proud of him.

Well as i was saying, yesterday, i found out about a gentleman called Gordan Hartman and his Hartman Foundation... Gordan Hartman last year personally donated TEN MILLION DOLLARS... thats right $10,000,000 to help build a 21acre recreational facility specifically for special needs kids and their families right here on my doorstep in San Antonio, Texas!

This is simply awesome, the recreational center will be the biggest one of its kind in the world and will open this fall, it has been designed so it is 100% accessible for kids with disabilities and in a wheelchair like my son, it even has an 8 acre fishing lake with accessible spots so as i can go fishing with him without worry hes gonna get swept away! lol

Its difficult for me to really express what this opportunity means, not just for my family, but the many families with special needs kids, this really creates a total new outlook for us all. Its a place where I can take my little boy and he wont have to sit on the side of the play area and have to watch his friends having fun playing on swings, and see-saws, and merry-go-rounds, things that people sometimes perhaps take for granted... this will be a place he will actually be able to join in and be part of the fun!

For me i am counting down the days until the place opens its doors, I don't really expect many comments back on this thread, but i would like to ask for those people that do read this thread and do know families or even have families of their own that have special needs kids in the San Antonio, Texas area or think this may be of benefit to them - then please if you would tell them to check out this website it would mean a lot to me and know it would to them too....


thanks


jay aka ukescuba

This is a troubled world many times, but there is also so much good and generosity. My brother was disabled so I understand (to a degree) what you feel. May God bless you and your son...

I don't personally know you nor your family but am very happy to hear this since you seem extremely happy about this and for a good reason I might add, this will make a very big difference in your son's life.

thanks guys i really appreciate your comments!

it will certainly make a difference to us, i wrote to the Hartmann Foundation within an hour of finding out about this, just to tell them how thankfully we where and to offer our help.

The best thing for me though is that I know how much this will mean to the other families with special needs kids - they are gonna have an amazing time there!

Plus part of the deal as well is it will remain completely free to visitors too!

Saw a program hours before about a disabled person who wrote 6 books in 9 years. Disability is just another hurdle. Wish you good luck. Why do you think this thread will receive few comments? Wait and see.

Now this is cool. What a man. I dont have much trust in this world anymore, its a bad troubled world we live in. But hearing this makes me think somehow it can change in a way.

My brother has autism so hes not a normal kid who can communicate and interact with folks. But hes happy always, cheerful. I hoped there was a place like this being built around here.

Sorry for the thread jack.

Anyways, its cool that you work at home now, have more time with your son.

Whoa hats off to this guy. I'm gonna have to go down and check this out, I'm an Austinite myself. Glad this miracle could benefit your family so tremendously. Best of Luck to you and your son.

There's nothing like a happy little kid. I love kids, though I don't have any. disabled or not, a kids a kid. Damn I miss being a kid. Anyways, that 10 million is money well spent for sure. You and your boy will have a blast there, and many other kids as well.

i just emailed oprah! lol

she can reach more people than i can to tell people about this place

Now we are talking....

ukescuba said:

i just emailed oprah! lol

she can reach more people than i can to tell people about this place

Click to expand...

I'm very happy for you, ukescuba.
You and your son are going to have a blast there. What a generous act. Gives me hope really.
Best of luck, man!

WOW!! That's really amazing that someone would do that. I wish you and your family the best.

When I have so much money that I could give 10 mill. away and it wouldn't hurt me financially, but put a good feeling into myself, I certainly would.

Glad to hear of this new opportunity that has arose.

thanks guys

this is the actual letter i wrote, its a spin on what i actually wrote on here, but hopefully its more to the point and gets my message across better!

will see will probably take months to even get a reply if i even get a reply even, not going to hold my breath though... i forwarded it on to the actual foundation and they where ecstatic that i would even try and loved the letter

My letter to oprah...

Hi Oprah,

If it was at all possible I would love for you to spare 60 seconds & have you place yourself in the shoes of a parent with a severely disabled child or children - I am one of those parents & will be for the rest of my life.

At a time of billion dollar bailouts I just wanted to share this glimmer of real change, hope & generosity with you.

My 4 year old son is severely disabled, it's unlikely he will ever talk or walk un-aided, despite his condition he's one of the bravest, happiest & coolest little boys i have known, I am an extremely proud Dad.

I recently learnt about a gentleman called Gordan Hartman & his Hartman Foundation. Last year Gordan donated $10,000,000 to help build a 21acre recreational facility specifically for special needs kids in San Antonio, TX.

The recreational center will be the biggest one of its kind and will open this fall, it has been designed to be 100% accessible for kids with disabilities & in a wheelchair like my son, it even has an 8 acre fishing lake!

It's difficult for me to really express what this opportunity means, not just for my family, but the many families with special needs kids, this really creates a total new outlook for us all. It's a place where I can take my little boy & he wont have to sit on the side of the play area watching his friends having fun playing on swings, see-saws, & merry-go-rounds, things that people sometimes perhaps take for granted, this will be a place he will actually be able to join in & be part of the fun!

Oprah, i know you reach many people who know or have families with special needs kids, if you could please tell them to visit this website it would mean a lot to me & know it would to them too.... www.morganswonderland.com

I love seeing people on your show who are visionaries, people that change 100's if not 1000's of peoples life's for the better, people like Gordan Hartman.

Thank you for your time.

ukescuba said:

Gordan Hartman last year personally donated TEN MILLION DOLLARS... thats right $10,000,000 to help build a 21acre recreational facility specifically for special needs kids and their families right here on my doorstep in San Antonio, Texas!

Click to expand...

I built a custom website, with integrated forums etc for a place similar here in Australia but it was for kids with cancer. It was a recreational facility with horses and that sort of thing, but well equipped to get them out of a hospital setting but still had full care.

I done it for free, but it was cool to later see what i done on nationwide TV. But 10 Million, that's fantastic kudos to Gordan Hartman because getting places like that built means a lot.

UkeScuba, I am very happy for you.

In my family as well we have been blessed with a child of special needs, and the most important thing to take back from this is two things. Be grateful for the things that you have, because they can easily be taken away from you. And number two, nothing is more important than the welfare of a child, regardless if they are disabled or not.

I am inpspired by your story this morning (it's morning where I am reading this), and I am going to bookmark the site you provided and pass it on to family and friends that live in the area. I wish you all the best!

ukescuba, great thread.

My wife is a special education teacher.

she's not into the net like we are, but when I showed her this thread she said she will email it out to all her contacts.

Yeah ukescuba you said it right, you are blessed.

Best to your children and your family.

Thank you. You and your child are obviously very lucky people for being able to love, share and learn from each other like this.

I'll think a bit and put some action into this.

The best to you and your family.

He is definately someone to look up to. I swear that if I ever make a serious amount of money I will try to repent my BH sins by doing something great for people like this.