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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Generosity overwhelms hockey player, his family


Jason Resto, center, stands with his parents, Bev and George, at Kootenai Medical Center on Thursday. Jason came from Virginia to play for the Kootenai Colts Junior Hockey B league team, but was diagnosed with acute lymphocystic leukemia a month ago.
 (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)

Donations of thousands of dollars and a flight home to Virginia in a private jet stunned George, Bev and Jason Resto and left them in grateful tears after the weekend.

“We were touched by an angel,” George Resto said Monday.

“It gets to me every time I think about it.”

Jason Resto, 18, played hockey for the Kootenai Colts, a Junior B team in Coeur d’Alene, until he was diagnosed with acute lymphocystic leukemia a month ago.

His parents flew from the family home in Ashburn, Va., to stay at the Walden House for families of cancer patients while Jason was treated at Kootenai Medical Center.

The Restos planned to take their son home, but doctors deemed a commercial flight too risky for infection.

Terry Beck, the Colts’ director of operations, e-mailed the hockey community last week with a plea for a private plane and donations for medical expenses.

A man whose sons play hockey back East responded.

The man, who chose anonymity, volunteered his seven-passenger jet and donated the fuel.

Beck was overwhelmed.

“When I was 23, my mom died from cancer after fighting it for five years,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s what’s driving me now, but this has brought back a lot of memories.”

Beck’s e-mail and a newspaper story Friday on the Restos’ plight sparked an outpouring of at least $3,000 to the Jason Resto Benefit Fund.

A man who read about Jason found George Resto in the hospital hallway Friday and asked how to help.

Resto told him a flight was arranged. The man, who wouldn’t give his name, left, then returned 20 minutes later with an envelope he gave to Jason.

“He said, ‘I want you to be strong and have faith and when you get better help other people,’ ” Resto said, trying to push past the emotion tightening his throat.

The envelope contained enough money to cover at least a few days of hospital care. “Jason cried when he opened it. I just want to send this man a big thank you.”

Beck opened a benefit fund to help with travel money and the medical care Jason has ahead of him.

Jason graduated from high school last June and was recruited by the Colts.

He chose to train full time with the team – one notch below the Spokane Chiefs – for exposure to college and National Hockey League scouts.

The Restos’ health insurance covers Jason now but won’t after he turns 19 in May, unless he’s a full-time student.

Leukemia treatment will make school difficult. And cancer is likely to stop most health insurance programs from accepting Jason.

“We’re looking at different options,” Beck said.

“Donations are the key. We’ll never know how much is enough. We don’t want the family to lose everything.”

The Resto family leaves for home today from the Coeur d’Alene Airport. Goodbyes were tough.

“We’re so sad to leave this hospital and the people around here,” Bev Resto said.

“We’re just crying and hugging everyone. It’s a very emotional departure.”