Eight-year-old J.T. wasn’t much into roller coasters.
He came with his mother and father to the Prince William County Fair last year and was scared of just about every ride on the midway — from the “Scrambler” the Ferris Wheel.
This year, things are different. This year, he rode everything more than once — for free — and cried when the Ferris Wheel closed for the night.
“He talked about it the whole next day saying ‘Mommy, Daddy, I ride…” said Kristin Ashmore, of Manassas, J.T.’s mother.
J.T. has suffered from a heart defect that required him to have open-heart surgery at eight-months-old. He also has Down Syndrome.
Doctors said J.T. wouldn’t enjoy some of the same activities of his peers, said Ashmore.
J.T. rode a roller coaster at the fair August 16 and loved it. Ashmore posted a photo of her son on the ride to the fair’s Facebook page.
Then, an anonymous donor bought an all-you-can-ride wristband for the family so they could come back and ride again.
On Wednesday, J.T., mom, dad and sisters Kaitlyn 5, and Destiny, 6, came back to the fair.
“We didn’t think we were going to have the money come back,” said Ashmore. “This was really nice, and we didn’t expect it.”
J.T. hugged everyone at the front gate where he picked up his wristband, and then he went to ride the attractions.
The annual Prince William County Fair ends today.
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