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It was Sunday of Labor Day weekend, 1996. Ace was playing golf with his Dad and his friend, Jessie Crain when a call came from his Mom to their cell phone that would alter the next two years of their lives. Ace’s brother Ryan had been involved in a near fatal automobile accident while driving back for his sophomore year in college and was being transported to Boulder Community Hospital from the accident site via Flight for Life.
As Ace entered the Emergency Room, he was relieved to see Ryan’s chest move which meant he was alive.
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The seriousness of Ryan’s condition was then detailed to the family by the doctors: Ryan had broken his back in 7 places, had dislocated the lower 2 vertebrae, and had suffered severe cuts to his spine and hip, all of which required seven hours of surgery that the doctors likened to repairing Humpty Dumpty.
During the next year of rehab, Ace would spend each lunch hour with Ryan and then would spend hours in the evenings talking, joking and consoling his closest brother. Ace developed a profound understanding of how dramatically a tragedy or illness can affect an individual and his surrounding family. One day Ace saw Ryan dunking a basketball then, with the accident, he saw Ryan unsure of ever walking again. So, Ryan’s recovery became a family focus with Ace and his Mom taking the lead in total dedication.
Within the next 2 years, Ace, Ryan and Marc began visiting and performing at Children's Hospital on a regular basis. From the very beginning Ace was amazed by the courage he saw in the young patients and immediately found that he had a natural ability to connect with them. They loved his music and hugs and he loved being with them. Thus began an 8 year love affair between Ace and Childrens’ Hospital that has no end in sight! Since his move to LA 3-1/2 years ago, he and his brothers still spend Christmas day at the Hospital singing carols with the children. Ace says, “Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer is always a big hit.” They visit every single room for hours on end to make sure they see every child...”The only cameras we allow are those of the families visiting. It’s all for the kids.”
Ace says that his time at Children's provides him with a “reality check” in the midst of this crazy whirlwind of a year. “If you want to know how Superman feels, just get a hug from one of these little kids.”
