Update: Roush Family Lays John To Rest 

The Neighborhood News was on hand when (l.-r.) Robert, Laura, Donald and John Roush celebrated the twins’ seventh birthday outside their home in July of 2022. (Photo by Charmaine George) 

On Wednesday, January 3, a Celebration of Life was held for eight-year-old John Roush at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Plant City. The informal ceremony was hosted by his parents, Robert and Laura Roush, and John’s twin brother Donald and was attended mainly by the Roush family and their friends, as well as the entire USF men’s basketball team (of which John was an honorary member). 

Shiloh Pastor Joe Bowles, John’s teachers from Quail Hollow Elementary, one of his uncles and USF head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim (and one of his players) all spoke about John’s sweetness, his intelligence, his tenacity, his courage as he fought what appeared to be a successful two-year battle against leukemia before he passed away suddenly and especially, his amazing hugs. Haught Funeral Home director David Wolf released a single white dove following the service. 

I only ever met Laura and Robert Roush and their 8-year-old twin sons Donald and John twice, but I would be lying if I said the family didn’t have a profound impact on me. 

The first time I met the Roush family, photographer Charmaine George and I attended the twins’ drive-by seventh birthday party outside their Wesley Chapel home in 2022. 

John, who had suffered a recent bout with leukemia, couldn’t have a lot of people around him, because of his chemotherapy-weakened immune system. A fairly large number of people dropped off a number of presents and, knowing that children are much more likely to survive any number of cancers, I was hopeful that John would soon be given a clean bill of health and be able to go back to enjoying his much-deserved childhood. 

It wasn’t too long after that when Jannah and I attended a fund raiser for the family at Chuck Lager America’s Tavern in the Shops at Wiregrass. As anyone who has had a family member suffer from cancer knows, the costs can and usually are astronomical, so Jannah and I were happy to help, especially if it meant that John would be one of the fortunate ones to be able ro survive this unforgiving scourge. 

John Roush (2015-2023) 
Photos courtesy of the Roush Family 

Tragically, it wasn’t meant to be. Now just a little more than eight years old, Donald will now be missing his twin and Laura and Robert will forever be missing half their hearts, as John passed away a few days before we went to press with this issue. And, even though we didn’t know the family well, Jannah and I planned to attend John’s funeral, which had not yet been announced at our press time. 

No, we didn’t know the Roushes well, but John and Donald’s ever-present smiles the two times I met them reminded me of my own two sons — who aren’t twins but are as close as brothers can be. It’s hard for me, who has gotten to see both of my boys grow into amazing young men — both now with families of their own (three boys between them, as of today), careers and their own wonderful lives — to not feel tremendous sadness that Laura and Robert have been denied the feeling I have every time I’m with Jared, Jake and their families. 

I honestly can’t even imagine how Laura, Robert and especially Donald are feeling, I just know that I am willing to do whatever I can to help them. I’m starting with a small donation of my own and, even though I’ve never really been successful raising money for worthwhile causes, I’m also sharing the GoFundMe link so anyone who feels equally affected by the loss of this sweet child can do the same. That link is: https://gofund.me/7f286217. 

No matter what your religious beliefs may be, there’s no doubt that the loss of a precious child is one of the most difficult things in life for anyone to deal with, especially at this time of year. And, the bottom line is that even the most faithful of parents has to understand and feel the magnitude of this loss. 

So, soar high, John. Just know that not only does your family love and miss you, those of us who were only briefly acquainted with you know the genuine beauty of your smile and your deserving soul. Rest in peace. 

We’ll have more of the story in the January 23 issue of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News.

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY TO THE ROUSH TWINS!

Leukemia may have kept John Roush (far right) from school and his friends since his diagnosis in May, but it wasn’t going to spoil the drive-by 7th birthday celebration he shared with his twin brother Donald (left), as the Wesley Chapel community turned out in force out to wish the boys well from a distance.

Robert Roush knew a traditional birthday party was out of the question for his twin sons Donald and John, after John was diagnosed with leukemia in May.

So, Robert took to Facebook and crossed his fingers. A 26-year resident of Wesley Chapel, he hoped he could rally enough people willing to drive by his home and offer a happy seventh birthday wish for the boys from their vehicles.

Wesley Chapel didn’t let him down. More than 100 vehicles drove by the Roush home in two hours in Fox Ridge, honking and hollering birthday wishes, including fire trucks, a motorcycle club and some classic cars. Many waved elaborate signs wishing the twins a happy birthday, others handed out gifts for them.

“Honestly at first, we were apprehensive,” Robert said. “We’ve lived in Wesley Chapel for 26 years and I’ve seen how much it has changed with so much growth (and new people) the last two years and worried maybe it was losing that sense of community…but I was overwhelmed in a very good way. We saw that, at the core, the community is still there.”

Donald and John waved back from the front lawn of their home. They posed with firefighters, who brought gifts. John got to see teachers and his classmates from Quail Hollow Elementary, who he never got to say goodbye to this school year due to his untimely diagnosis.

“That was a big deal for him,” Robert said. “Missing the last weeks of school was really, really tough for him.”

John will not be able to attend classes in the fall, and will be home schooled by Robert. John’s mother Laura is a teacher’s assistant at Quail Hollow and is taking classes to become a teacher.

In May, John, who hadn’t been himself for months, was taken to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, where he was diagnosed with leukemia.

He spent the following 11 days in the hospital. The doctors say there is a two-year battle ahead of the family, but Robert says people who have children with leukemia or have already been through it have told him that two years “is a pie in the sky” prediction.

“We think we’re looking at 3-4 years of chemotherapy and other treatments,” said Robert, a self-employed counselor and pastor. “We’ll just have to take it one month at a time, and pray for the best.”

On the twins’ actual birthday — June 24 — John had a bone marrow draw and a spinal injection, where he had to go under anesthesia and have chemotherapy directly injected into his spine.

As a result, he was worn out 45 minutes into his birthday drive-by celebration the following day, but not before he was able to enjoy a reprieve from the loneliness of his illness.

“It absolutely was good for him, not only seeing how many people were supporting him and rooting for him, but it also gave him closure for the end of school,” Robert said. “It really helped him.” — JCC

Note – On July 1, Robert Roush posted the following on Facebook: 

“After a wonderful birthday, due to the love and support of the community, John has had a few setbacks. He had to undergo an additional bone marrow draw…and his blood counts have dropped, requiring him to be admitted back into St. Joseph’s. His spirits are high, but his energy is low. Please pray for our little man and our family…God willing he may be home for the 4th (of July).”

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