Democrat sister fulfills Republican brother's dying wish by arranging phone call from President Trump
A Connecticut woman who identifies as “100% Democrat” fulfilled the dying wish of her brother, who is battling cystic fibrosis and has been given six months to live, by arranging to have President Donald Trump call him on his cell phone Tuesday night.
Jay Barrett, a Republican from West Haven, is staying at the home of his sister, West Haven city councilwoman Bridgette Hoskie, while in hospice care. The man’s bucket list wish was “some sort of contact” with Trump, according to The Washington Times, so Hoskie took to the only logical place to make that dream happen: social media.
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On Feb. 26, she posted a vague plea on Facebook that read, “I am looking for some help in making something on my brother’s bucket list a reality. If you want to help me send me a message or post below and I’ll message you. This is a secret/surprise so I will not be posting what it is.”
Hoskie eventually spilled the beans on her master plan in a story published by the New Haven Register. It said that Barrett “hasn’t been able to attend any of Trump’s rallies or even fulfill his [original] wish of visiting Washington, D.C.” and shaking the president’s hand.
The article also revealed the reply Hoskie had been sending people whose interest was piqued enough to private message her about her post. “Please log onto WhiteHouse.gov and send a request to the president asking him to contact my brother,” the message to friends read. “He loves Trump and it’s on his bucket list. He’s currently in Yale’s ICU so this happening would be amazing. Use your info and my brother’s in the message.”
The plan worked, and Barrett received a personal phone call from Trump.
“Hi, Jay. You look handsome to me. I just saw a picture of you,” the president is heard saying in video footage of the call that Hoskie shared to Facebook on Tuesday.
“Oh, you’re giving me kind honors. I look like s***,” Barrett joked back.
The two went on to offer support and encouragement to each other, with Trump calling Barrett a champ and encouraging him to fight. “I wish you could come to a rally,” the president told him before promising he’d come Barrett’s way the next time he’s in town. “I know where you live,” Trump, a native New Yorker, said. “I know it well. You’ll be sitting front row center, Jay.”
Barrett, who is holding out hope to have the opportunity to vote in 2020, said he is also determined to attend a rally. “If you can pencil me in, I’ll find a way to get there,” he told the president. He added, “I plan on coming down to D.C. between now and my expiration date,” which prompted Trump to insist he refrain from talking that way. “You’ll be surprised,” Trump said. “I know my people. You’re gonna be surprised.”
“Mr. President, through thick and thin,” Barrett said before the call was over, “you know there’s been a lot of thicks, and there’s been a lot of thins. I support you.”
The president responded, “That’s beautiful, man. We love you, Jay, and that’s really beautiful, what you said.”
Trump ended the conversation by letting Barrett know a signed personal letter is on its way to him from the White House. “You’re my kind of man, Jay,” said Trump, who also complimented Hoskie. “I’m very proud of you. I’ll talk to you again, Jay, OK? You keep that fight going. We both fight.”
After the president hung up, Barrett said, “That’s pretty crazy. Did I just talk to the president of the United States on the phone?”
But the excitement didn’t end there. Barrett told the New Haven Register that he has also received calls from Eric Trump as well as U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regional chief Lynne Patton on Monday. The president’s son said “they’re pulling for me and praying,” according to Barrett.
Barrett told the Washington Times that he hadn’t always been a Republican; for a long time he considered himself an independent and even voted for Barack Obama in 2008 before becoming disenchanted with the former president’s performance. He said he “came to realize he was a Republican” and subsequently identified with Trump’s policies.
“He loves the fact that Trump speaks his mind,” Hoskie said to the New Haven Register.
Even local politicians are turning out for Barrett. Connecticut State Rep. Charlie Ferraro visited Barrett in the hospital and brought with him a fellow West Haven resident who’s been to a whopping 44 Trump rallies. “I just want to help make his last days as pleasant as I can,” Ferraro said. “Say what you want to say about West Haven, but when the chips are down people come together to help.”
Commenters on Facebook are tickled by the dream come true.
“I am laying here with tears streaming!” one person wrote.
“No matter what team you’re on, this is awesome! Healing prayers for your brother,” another said.
Barrett has one more wish that his sister is working to fulfill: He wants an American flag from the state or U.S. Capitol Building to be included at his funeral. Hoskie told the New Haven Register that the community is rallying around that request too. State Rep. Dorinda Borer of West Haven, she said, is already working on it.
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