Community Action honors volunteer
When Jarrett Miller of Brownsville was born three months premature, doctors told his parents, Karen and Bob Miller, not to expect their baby boy to live.
Jarrett’s mother, Karen, said her baby stopped breathing and was brought back to life five times. At one point, he didn’t breath for five minutes.
?The doctors then gave Bob and Karen Miller more devastating news. They said if Jarrett lived he would never talk or walk.
But Jarrett proved the doctors wrong, overcoming all of the odds that were stacked against him. He did live.
He did talk, and he did walk.
And 43 years later, he was recognized by Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc. (FCCAA) for an amazing accomplishment — 10 years of volunteer service at the agency’s Adult Daily Living Center in Hiller where he helps take care of the elderly.
At a picnic for Adult Daily Living Center members held recently at Yough Park in Connellsville, Mary Budinksy, the center’s project manager, presented Jarrett Miller with a special plaque the day after he celebrated his 43rd birthday.
“Jarrett gave 10 years of his life, serving the residents of this center,” Budinsky said.
“He plays bingo with the residents and helps them with other games, like bowling and darts. He comes every day, five days a week. He helps me at the center every day. Jarrett is an amazing person.”
Budinsky read the plaque which was inscribed with these words: “This award is presented to Jarrett Miller in recognition of 10 years of selfless service to the Fayette County Community Action Agency Adult Daily Living Center.”
The plaque also includes this poem, “I shared a smile, held a hand and dried somebody’s tears, knelt with you, made a friend, becoming wiser than my years.”
Jarrett Miller, who was touched by the recognition, began to cry.
“I sure was surprised,” he said. “They kept it a secret. I never knew until today about this. I’m very honored to be recognized. I believe everyone has their calling in life. I have found mine, and I would not change it.”
Karen Miller said it was great to see her son honored.
“For a child who wasn’t supposed to live, walk or talk, I think he has done great,” Karen Miller said as she began to cry.
“I only carried him for six months. He was only 2 pounds, 10 ounces when he was born. The doctors said he almost died five times, and they brought him back to life.”
Bob Miller said he knew he reached the epitome of his life when everyone started referring to him as “Jarrett’s dad.”
“It makes you very proud,” Bob Miller said. “Jarrett has come a long way, and he has done it on his own. Jarrett talks to everyone. Everyone seems to know him. You can’t go anywhere without seeing someone Jarrett knows. When we were on vacation in South Carolina one time, Jarrett started talking to a man he knew from Brownsville. He’s amazing.”
At the picnic, Jarrett Miller, who is a chaplain, performed a memorial service for Wilma Dean of Uniontown, a member of the Adult Daily Living Center, who died two days before the picnic.
“I’ve grown very close to everyone at the center and made many friends,” he said. “I was very close to Wilma as well. Wilma always called me her ‘step-in boyfriend.’ When she would see me, she always had a big smile on her face. I’m really going to miss her.”