RANGELY | Much of Rangely gathered at the high school on Saturday, Feb. 4 to watch the basketball teams play and to show support for the Doolin family. Mark Doolin is the varsity basketball coach, and Gracie Doolin is a third grade teacher at Parkview Elementary. On Jan. 13, 2023, they welcomed a baby boy named Anson Sumner at their home. He joins his older brother, Tripp.
On Jan. 22, Anson became lethargic and Doolins took him to the hospital in Vernal. While there he became very sick and was sent to Salt Lake Primary Children’s Hospital via flight-for-life on Jan. 23. Doctors in Salt Lake diagnosed Anson with two major and one minor congenital heart defects: aortic coarctation (narrow aorta) and a VSD (hole in his heart). Anson underwent open heart surgery on Jan. 26. The Doolin family remains in Salt Lake for an unspecified time.
Anson’s grandparents are Ryan and Michelle Wilkie, who also work in the school district. Ryan is in the maintenance department. Michelle teaches high school math and is the girls’ basketball assistant coach.
A donation account is active at the Bank of the San Juans to help the Doolins with expenses during this time. A benefit dinner was hosted at the Feb. 4 basketball games as a fundraiser. Tacos and dessert kept the Doolins in spectators’ hearts while the boys’ basketball team enlisted their parents’ help and designed T-shirts to honor their coach and his son. Designed with Anson’s nickname, “Little Warrior,” and their team motto, “Mudita,” which translates from Sanskrit meaning “joy, especially sympathetic or vicarious joy, or the pleasure that comes from delighting in other people’s well-being.” The team wore these shirts on Feb. 2 at Caprock Academy in Grand Junction.
HS basketball players wore shirts to honor Coach Doolin and baby Anson. Mudita means “joy” in Sanskrit and is the team’s motto.
BY KATIE KING | Special to the Herald Times
