Cincinnati, OH – In a heartwarming story of resilience and compassion, a teenager named Petey Jones has found a home with Ryan Holdren and Caitlin Dates after facing a series of devastating personal tragedies. The tale began in March 2021, when a fire tragically claimed the lives of Jones’s sister and their home, leaving him in need of support.
Holdren, a middle school teacher and assistant football coach, was alerted about the incident by his school secretary and quickly reached out to Jones, offering him a place to stay. “Hey, I know you got a lot going on, but if you ever need it, you’re always welcome to come stay with me,” he texted. Several weeks later, Jones accepted the offer and has been living with Holdren and Dates ever since. “We just wanted to give him something consistent,” Holdren stated.
Jones, now 17, has been through a lot. He lost both of his parents within a few years, followed by the loss of his sister just two months later. He refers to the period as the “bad times,” but credits Holdren and Dates as his “two angels.” They provided him with the support he needed to heal and to thrive.
Initially, Holdren and Dates focused on helping Jones with his football aspirations. They would spend quality time together after practice, building a strong bond. Holdren’s relationship with Jones deepened, prompting him to become Jones’s legal guardian the following year with the approval of Jones’s remaining family.
Since joining the Holdren household, Jones has adjusted to a more structured lifestyle, which has contributed to his growth. He is now not just focused on athletics; he also juggles tutoring first graders and working at the mall while dreaming of becoming a nurse if his NFL ambitions do not pan out. “Petey’s really an inspiration,” Holdren remarked, proud of how far the young man has come, from struggling with grief to receiving offers from 13 colleges.
The transformation from a shell-shocked boy to a confident young man has been remarkable, and Holdren feels nothing but optimism for Jones’s future. “To know what he’s been through and what he’s done for himself is incredible,” he concluded.
