Born Dec. 9, 2005, far too soon to win his battle for life, Zane Patrick Lobosky nevertheless fought like a champ for 28 days while being held prisoner by needles, tubes and medications in his tiny, heated bed in Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.
Zane’s fingers could only grip mommy’s or daddy’s fingers — never chains on a tire swing. Although his feet were tiny, they promised to follow in papaw’s massive footprints. When not sedated, his long legs and tiny feet wiggled and kicked — but, never a football; never to climb, run or jump.
When opened, his incredibly dark eyes followed mommy and daddy’s movements. His tiny mouth would pull to the side in a smile that the breathing tube couldn’t hide.
Mommy’s hand caressing his head calmed him with love. The warmth of daddy’s hands lying loving on his broad back reassured Zane that daddy was there. Two sets of grandparents covered his head and the bottoms of his feet with tender kisses of love.
Even though he was only allowed 28 days of life, his family will never forget. And now thousands of boys and girls will enjoy climbing, running, jumping and swinging for years to come because of Zane’s legacy.
And most of the time it hits closer than we would like.
That was definitely the case when Jeremy Brooking, a Mitchell High School graduate, and Zachary Holland, who has close Mitchell ties, were injured while serving in Iraq
Brooking’s brother, Josh Brooking, told the Times-Mail earlier that Jeremy “was shot in the chest, right above his heart.” He said Jeremy was hit by a sniper.
After being sent to Germany to begin recuperating from his injury, Brooking was scheduled to return home to North Carolina this past weekend. His mother, Debbie Brooking, said she will leave this week to visit him.
And chances are they’re going to have to do just that to get a $100,000 skate park built in Mitchell.
More than a dozen young boys, and even a few girls, gathered at the downtown mini-park May 24 to check out the city’s plans for a skate park. The designs were drawn up by American Ramp Co. after company officials visited Mitchell last summer and conducted a free skate event that drew skaters into Mitchell to check out the company’s various ramps, rails, tables and half pipes. The designers from American Ramp took the feedback from the local skaters back and came up with several designs in various price ranges to present to the youths.
By NELLIE CHASTAIN