Greg’s Pharmacy is throwing a party for Bluffton’s small-town hero Owen Weaver and you are invited.
The event is from noon to 3 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 3, in the village parking lot behind Greg’s. The Weaver family will attend from noon to 1:30 p.m.
This summer marked the success of a GoFundMe drive that generated enough money to purchase a new van for the Weaver family.
It allows Owen to more easily go to doctor appointments at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, and to local activities.
Angie Halcomb Greg’s Pharmacy manager, one of the local promoters of the fund drive said, “We want to let everyone know that our small town hero reached the go-fund-me goal and got his van!”
The van is a 2017 Cheverolet Express from Lima Auto Mall with the lift feature needed for Owen. The lift was installed by MC Mobility, Dayton.
“We want to have an unveiling of the van so that the community can share in the family's joy,” she said. “This way everyone can see the fruits from this labor of love.”
Parents are Chad and Melissa Weaver. Owen has three brothers, Carson, 11, Aiden, 8, and Gavin, 5. Owen will be 10 in a few weeks.
Cookies and punch will be provided by Greg's Pharmacy. If inclement weather-event will be held inside the pharmacy.
Here’s Owen’s story provided his parents, Chad and Melissa Weaver:
Owen was born Aug.14, 2007, and he began a normal life.
Eight short weeks later, his life dramatically changed forever. Owen became extremely ill and was diagnosed with Pneumococcal Meningitis. The Meningitis caused a significant amount of brain damage; which in turn caused multiple other problems for him, including Blindness, Diabetes Insipidus, Myoclonic Seizures, Cerebral Palsy and Global Developmental Delays just to name a few.
He is currently on an extremely strict diet called the Ketogenic Diet that has helped control his seizures. He is almost to the three-year anniversary for being on the diet.
The diet has taken him from 300 plus seizures a day to now being at five or less a year, however, this could change at any given time we are just thankful for what the diet has done for him so far. Owen has managed to fight through all of these struggles and has continued to be the sweetest, most loving and happiest you'll ever get to know.
Owen's loving personality and beaming smile draws everybody to instantly adore him. He has a unique ability to be unconditionally happy and his joy is effortlessly passed onto everyone he meets. Anywhere he goes, he manages to cross paths with someone whose life he has touched.
His relentless joy for life has managed to show people that no matter what happens or how bad the situation may seem, there is always something to be joyful for, you just have to find it. He has taught us that being a hero comes from within.
Owen has a wonderful support system of family and friends.
His mother Melissa, gave up her career to manage all of his intensive medical needs, which requires respiratory therapy twice a day, 16 medications and a mixed injection twice a day and maintaining his Ketogentic Diet which requires specific foods and detailed preparation.
She also is a member on the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities. His father Chad, works full time for Findlay Fire Department and also works part time as a Public Safety Instructor at Apollo Career Center. Owen has three brothers all of which love him unconditionally and have learned to stand up and defend him and others who face disabilities as well.
His teachers and friends he has met can't help but to smile every time they see him. Owen enjoys attending school, church, playing baseball, Equestrian Therapy, attending his brothers sports activities and multiple other community events and activities. Owen is always greeted by the many people who have come to love him and he can't help but to smile and love them back.
We have stayed strong and fought hard without asking for help these past 10 years. His current mobility van was purchased used and is starting to age drastically, costing nearly $3,000 in repairs in this last year alone, which doesn't include the general maintenance like tires, brakes and oil changes it has needed.
We know that he needs safe and reliable transportation for his doctors appointments at Nationwide Children's Hospital and for all the community activities he enjoys being involved in.
We also have realized in the past year that we are unable to purchase a new van for him, as it is all we can do to get through the day to day grind.
We are surrounded by a great support system in our friends, family, church, community and organization whom have encouraged us to reach out for help. Owen has been a hero for so many, let's come together and be a hero for him.
