When Gabriel Romero sees the squealing piglet, his eyes light up and the red dog painted on his cheek crinkles as he smiles.
His mother, Gina, watches from nearby.
“He just seems to be happy with everything, but he likes the animals a lot,” she said as Gabriel toured the animal barn Monday at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds. His visit was made possible through Memory Makers, a program now in its 15th year aimed at helping medically fragile children enjoy the fair.
Gabriel, who has autism, and his mother spent the day with volunteers from Clark County Fire District 6.
Wearing flip-flops and sporting a buzz cut, Gabriel followed his mother and a group of three firefighters through animal barns, food courts and lines for rides. Gabriel jumped, waved his arms in circles and clapped with excitement at several points throughout the day.
If You Go
•What: Clark County Fair.
•Hours Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
•Where: 17402 N.E. Delfel Road.
•Admission: Military Appreciation Day, $7.25 admission with current or past military ID. Uniformed service members admitted free; adults, $11.25; seniors 62 and older, $9.25; kids 7-12, $8.25; kids 6 and younger, free.
•Parking, transportation: Parking, $6 per vehicle; C-Tran shuttle, free from six main transfer stations; $1 discount on full gate admission with coupon from bus driver. Schedules at www.c-tran.com/clarkcountyfair
•Carnival: Opens at noon.
•Free grandstand entertainment: Mutton Bustin’, 2 p.m.; Bull riding, 7 p.m.
•Pets: Not permitted, except for service animals or those on exhibit or in competition.
•More information: www.clarkcofair.com or call 360-397-6180.
His mother said she didn’t think she could afford to bring Gabriel to the fair this year, so being selected for the program was extra helpful.
The program matches three firefighters with two families a day for three days. And more firefighters want to volunteer than the program can support.
One of the firefighters, Scott Taube, ended his shift on Monday at 8:00 a.m. and came to the fair to volunteer on his day off. He said part of idea of the program is to support the families of the kids with health issues.
“I think the opportunity for the family is duly important. They get to relax and not worry about baby sitting,” Taube said. “We take care of the child, but we take care of the family also.”
Gabriel’s brother and sister accompanied him through the fair too. His sister, Freja Graves, 24, said the support of the firefighters helps keep Gabriel mellow. “Everyone from the department are super sweet,” she said.
Taube comforted Gabriel by holding him up to look at the chickens, bunnies, guinea pigs and horses. Taube was frequently at Gabriel’s side, talking to him about the animals. Earlier in the day, Taube helped him ride a horse named Trigger and shoot an air gun at targets.
“It makes me feel like a kid again,” Taube said.
Program coordinator and firefighter Clint Greeley trailed the family through the fair. He has run Memory Makers for five years and has been with the department for 30.
“It’s something that’s really rewarding for us because we like to see the smile on these guys’ faces,” Greeley said. “We do it because these families don’t have this opportunity.”
For each kid, the challenges are different. On Sunday, Greeley said, they accompanied a kid with cerebral palsy. That kid had six seizures, which they were prepared for, Greeley said, so the program is suitable for a range of medical conditions. For kids in wheelchairs, Greeley said the firefighters often lift them into Ferris wheels.
Gina said Gabriel’s autism became apparent when he wasn’t talking at a normal age.
At age 7, Gabriel already has a lot of interests, including swimming and coloring. He also likes to listen to music with a Word document open and write down the lyrics.
Every year for the program, Greeley contacts hospitals and lets them pick the children to participate. He hopes to run the program for years to come.
Greeley grinned when he saw Gabriel jumping and clapping at the sight of a bunny.
“You can tell in his smiles,” Greeley said, “he’s really enjoying it.”
