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Annual tree festival runs through Sunday
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Nov 29, 2008
Andy was so severely injured in an industrial accident on Jan. 15, 2005, that few thought he would survive; not at the scene, not during transport to Akron General Medical Center, and not at the hospital.
But the now 23-year-old Holcomb — who lost everything below the belly button — continues to defy the odds.
His unshakable faith, optimism in all things and grace pilot not only him, but also others close to him.
''Andy truly is my hero. He's the
bravest man I know,'' said Hudson's Sunny Roop, who met Andy a short time after the accident. ''He never complains. He always greets you with a smile.''
Roop committed to designing a tree for Akron Children's Hospital's annual Tree Festival. (It runs through Sunday at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.)
So it was a no-brainer to come up with a theme.
Roop used Andy Holcomb as her inspiration and incorporated her longtime passion for collecting Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls.
''Since this is the 90th anniversary of Raggedy Ann and Andy, I decided to title the tree Raggedy Andy: My Hero,'' Roop said.
''In the actual story of Raggedy Andy, he always saves the day. No matter what comes his way, he's always joyful, pleasant and kind to others.
''Just like Raggedy Andy in the story, Andy Holcomb is an incredible hero who never complains. He still has those horrible nightmares of the accident. And his pain still is really bad. But you'll never hear him really complain.''
Roop said her main mission in doing the tree is ''keeping Andy's story out there.''
Andy's tree is 7 feet tall and decorated with a vintage Raggedy Andy doll (which is 5 feet tall with all original clothing, and in mint condition), about 30 smaller Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, other vintage toys and 800 twinkle lights. It also comes with a vintage rocking horse and an American Flyer wagon, a copy of one made in 1940.
The tree, like all of the other decorated festival trees, is up for auction, with proceeds going to the hospital.
Holcomb ''knows about the tree and hopefully he'll be able to come down to see it,'' Roop said.
''I would just like to remind your readers that Andy — who is cared for by his mother, Sheila Holcomb, and his older brother, Gary Holcomb Jr. — still needs people around him and prayer. And he enjoys receiving mail.''
Please write to: Andy Holcomb, P.O. Box 6209, Akron, Ohio 44312.
'Life's Journey'
Jeanette Barnard has decorated and donated trees to the festival for a lot of years.
This year's installment pays homage to the staff at Hospice of Summa.
''This tree represents life's journey — the good and the sad things,'' Barnard said.
''At the end, it takes a whole team to help us with our final journey.''
Barnard, who is a favorite volunteer with the Tree Festival, dedicated one of her past trees to her late son, Army Spc. 3rd Class Joseph John Tripodi, a Stow-Munroe Falls High School graduate who was killed with two other soldiers in an explosion in 1980. That tree was displayed in 2004 and was called The Wedding Tree.
''He had gone through boot camp and was training to be a bomb specialist,'' Barnard said of her 19-year-old son.
''He also had asked a girl to marry him. But she was too young at the time, and they chose to wait.''
Barnard has two other children, a daughter with epilepsy and a son whose life inspired her latest tree incarnation.
''Michael [Tripodi] was working at a gas station on Rhodes Avenue when he was robbed and shot in the head,'' his mother said, journeying back in time.
Not only did he survive, but he also graduated from nursing school, later working for Summa in coronary care.
He now works in the hospice division.
''Hospice touched our lives years ago when my mother died of lung cancer,'' Barnard said. ''None of us knows when we're going to be called home. Those who worked with me on the tree just wanted to give recognition for all who assist with that [end-stage] care.''
The Life's Journey tree comes with its own fully stocked bookcases, purchased by longtime Akron City Hospital volunteer Ted Smith.
Included in the library is Moby-Dick and a Betty Crocker cookbook, as well as books aimed at helping us navigate life's different situations.
Barnard is eternally grateful for all of the help she received in doing the tree, especially from Linda Demastus, whose 24-year-old daughter, Tammy Crady, was killed in 1998 when she was hit by a Norton police cruiser. Ms. Crady was one of two pedestrians who were struck.
It's those shared life experiences that gave birth to the Life's Journey tree.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Get the full article here.
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