By Carter                                              H.R. No. 151
       74R5440 PAN-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Eleven-year-old Zachary Gardner is a special young
    1-2  man who has touched the lives of countless children with his
    1-3  earnest concern for others and a generosity of spirit that is
    1-4  seldom seen in one so young; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, For nearly two years, Zachary has used his allowance
    1-6  to purchase toys and clothing for children being treated at John
    1-7  Peter Smith Hospital in Tarrant County; his interest in the idea
    1-8  was initially sparked when his beloved grandmother, Betty Smith,
    1-9  was admitted to the hospital after a fall; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, While she was being treated, Zachary felt frightened
   1-11  as he sat in the emergency room and began to imagine what the
   1-12  experience must be like for other children; deciding that the
   1-13  situation could be improved by having a source of comfort to cling
   1-14  to, he asked his mother, Ruth Gardner, if he could bring some of
   1-15  his own stuffed animals to the hospital for other children; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Touched but not surprised by the depth of his
   1-17  compassion, Mrs. Gardner encouraged her son and accompanied him to
   1-18  the hospital to donate the articles; while they were there, Zachary
   1-19  learned of a newborn baby girl who had been born at the hospital on
   1-20  drugs and whose mother was not visiting her; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, When Zachary found out that the infant was being
   1-22  dressed in paper clothing, he went shopping with his mother for
   1-23  baby clothes, and by the time the baby went home with her new
   1-24  adopted family, she was wearing an outfit that had been bought for
    2-1  her by Zachary; and
    2-2        WHEREAS, Since that time, Zachary has made repeated return
    2-3  trips to the hospital, and the many toys he has donated have been
    2-4  put to good use in the hospital's emergency room and evidence
    2-5  collection room comforting frightened children; and
    2-6        WHEREAS, Zachary learned the importance of giving to others
    2-7  from his mother and began "his ministry" at an early age, buying
    2-8  gifts for underprivileged children each Christmas, despite his own
    2-9  family's financial constraints; through the years, he also has
   2-10  mobilized others to help through his church, the Christian Temple
   2-11  in North Richland Hills; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, Zachary Gardner is a source of great pride to his
   2-13  close-knit family, which includes his mother, his grandmother, and
   2-14  his uncle, Albert Smith, as well as to the members of his
   2-15  community; though Zachary has expressed an interest in possibly
   2-16  becoming a heart specialist one day, many who have heard of his
   2-17  deeds undoubtedly already consider him to be one; now, therefore,
   2-18  be it
   2-19        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-20  Legislature hereby commend Zachary Gardner for his significant
   2-21  contributions to John Peter Smith Hospital and extend to him
   2-22  sincere best wishes for much happiness and good fortune in the
   2-23  years to come; and, be it further
   2-24        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-25  prepared for Zachary Gardner as an expression of highest regard by
   2-26  the Texas House of Representatives.