Former Pasco child remembered with swing

Jaden Rugg was the first kid to use the swings at west Pasco’s Casa del Sol Park. Now a new swing there will serve as a lasting tribute to him.

Jaden died Aug. 11, in Augusta, Ga., where his family recently moved. But the 11-year-old spent much of his life with his grandparents, Ed and Connie Wells, across the street from the park, often using the small swing set on its playground.

Jaden had Down syndrome and suffered from a condition that prevented his heart from growing with his body, said Bill Wahler, who along with the Wells were among the first people in the now bustling neighborhood. Jaden died after suffering a blood clot during surgery.

“They didn’t expect him to live a year,” Wahler said. “He made it to 11.”

The Wahler and Wells families moved to the neighborhood when it was farmland. Wahler said Jaden was so excited about the swings being installed that he wanted to be the first to play on them.

Neighborhood residents, touched by Jaden during his life, wanted to do something to honor him. Wahler’s wife, Marie, and Rosario Viera spoke with city officials who told them Pasco would build the swing if they raised money for it.

So they went door-to-door asking for help. They were overwhelmed by the response.

Word spread, and people as far away as New York also donated, helping them raise the needed $2,500, Marie Whaler said.

They were able to keep the plans secret from Jaden’s family — until Saturday.

A group of 60 people gathered at the park before Connie Wells, who was baking apple bread, and Jaden’s uncle, Kyle Rasmussen, were summoned.

“I couldn’t figure out who all these people were and what was going on,” Wells said of the gathering taking place across from her house. “I was totally shocked, a wonderful shock.”

Wells and Rasmussen couldn’t contain their emotions on seeing the bench swing, suspended from an arch, dedicated to Jaden. The playground swings have been put away for winter, but the large blue swing with the plaque for Jaden will be there all year.

“That would make Jaden so happy, but Jaden made everybody that met him happy,” said Wells, whose husband died in 2013. “When I see people swinging it will make me happy that he left something here.”

Jaden was involved in Special Olympics and the Rascal Rodeo for special needs athletes. Friends from the rodeo were on hand for the ceremony, which included refreshments from the Viera family’s bakery and a balloon launch at the end.

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 6:51 PM with the headline "Former Pasco child remembered with swing."