Catchfence

MEMPHIS TN (June 14, 2011) – Like many children his age, 14 year old Trevor Coleman loved the 2006 Walt Disney/Pixar release Cars and its animated take on the fast-paced world of stock car racing. At this Friday’s ARCA Racing Series RainEater Wiper Blades 200, at Michigan International Speedway, Trevor will have a race car of his own when the Trevor Coleman Dodge Charger takes the green flag with driver Roger Carter aboard.

Trevor, a Cardington, Ohio native, is a very special and heroic young man who has endured more than his share of life’s hardship. Soon after birth, he was diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s Disease, a debilitating congenital condition that causes the large intestine to lose function. At 21 months, an age when most children are happily beginning to play with toys, Trevor was undergoing a transplant of both his liver and intestines at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. “You expect your children to be healthy,” stated Trevor’s mom Heather Roush, “he was in Intensive Care for six months and it was devastating.” Trevor has been on feeding tubes his entire life and has never once tasted solid food. The only beverage he enjoys is Orange Crush.

As they bravely struggled to recover from the transplant surgery, Roush and her two other sons, Dalton and Clayton, also had to learn to cope with the added onset of Trevor’s Autism. The close-knit family endured numerous visits to various doctors and hospitals until it became apparent in 2009 that the transplant procedure would have to be repeated. Once again young Trevor was back at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, only this time he would need to have three organ transplants. In September 2009, he received last minute life-saving transplants of the liver, pancreas and intestines.

Roush is grateful to the organ donors and their families that saved her son’s life and to honor and encourage organ donation, Roush had “Donate Life” tattooed across her shoulders. “The generosity of others is why Trevor is alive today,” stated the appreciative mother, “but I understand that while we gain a second chance, the organ donor’s family has to deal with grief at the loss of their loved one.” The Mayo Clinic website states that at any time there are over 100,000 patients in the United States awaiting an organ transplant.

“I became friends with Heather and Trevor on Facebook,” stated ARCA Racing Series driver Roger Carter, “I was inspired by the family’s story and my wife and I soon drove to Columbus to visit Trevor in the hospital. It’s very seldom that you meet folks that you can just sense, deep down inside, are good people. Heather and Trevor will sit and comfort other children in the hospital that don’t have family members present. They really touched my heart.”

Carter and WWE wrestler John Cena are working together to raise funds needed to purchase a handicapped-accessible Toyota Sienna van for Trevor. “I love kids and I will do anything for them,” stated WWE Champion Cena, “Trevor is a true inspiration.” The total cost for the vehicle is approximately $30,000 and donations can be sent to:

Trevor Coleman c/o Toyota West of Statesville
997 Folger Drive
Statesville NC – 28625

This will be Carter’s first start at the scenic two-mile speedway, nestled in the Irish Hills of Michigan. “If I can just stay on the lead lap and finish in the Top-20, I’d be ecstatic” stated the Sunfield, Michigan driver. “I absolutely love ARCA. Joe Wells and Ron Drager have been awfully good to me. I really feel at home in the series.” Carter and the team would also like thank Ken Butler and Aaron Rents for providing hotel accommodations for the event.

Trevor was looking forward to seeing his car on the track this weekend but his health conditions will not make that a reality. Still Roush maintains an amazingly positive attitude. “My life isn’t horrible,” she stated “you make the best of what you got. If you don’t, then you’re not living”.

- Hylton Motorsports Press Release