Trump friend hand-delivers campaign bling to ailing West Haven man

West Haven, Connecticut - Saturday, March 9, 2019: Jay W. Barrett, 44, of West Haven, terminally ill with cystic fibrosis who is a President Donald Trump fan and received a phone call from the President Tuesday right,, with visiting West Haven Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, left, shows of an autographed Make America Great Again hat, an official Donald Trump Presidential campaign jacket and a t-shirt that was among the many gifts he received from the President and his son Eric Trump Saturday afternoon delivered to his home by HUD official and personal Trump family friend Lynne Patton, who is from the New Haven area. less West Haven, Connecticut - Saturday, March 9, 2019: Jay W. Barrett, 44, of West Haven, terminally ill with cystic fibrosis who is a President Donald Trump fan and received a phone call from the President Tuesday ... more Photo: Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media Buy photo Photo: Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Trump friend hand-delivers campaign bling to ailing West Haven man 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

WEST HAVEN — A dying man who made international headlines Tuesday when he got a “bucket list” telephone call of encouragement from President Donald Trump received hand-delivered gifts Saturday from the Trump family, including a red “Make America Great Again” cap, autographed by the president himself and a “Build the Wall” toy building block set.

“It’s pretty cool, pretty bad ass,” a smiling Jay W. Barrett said of the gifts of mostly rare 2016 campaign bling. “He’s (Trump) the person I always thought he was. He (Trump) needs to be portrayed as a better person.”

Mayor Nancy Rossi, a Democrat, threw Trump some public love too on behalf of West Haven.

The gifts were delivered to Barrett’s home by close Trump family friend and HUD official Lynne Patton, who grew up in New Haven and now lives in Westchester County, N.Y.

In addition to the trademark cap, among the treasures delivered in red and blue gift bags was a rare 2016 Trump campaign jacket and some shirts from “The Girls” — Ivanka Trump, Eric’s wife Lara, Don Jr.’s girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle; Trump gear designer Christl Mahfouz and Patton — and a “Build the Wall” building locks toy set. Patton said there are only about 100 of the campaign jackets in existence.

Attorney Albert V. Carocci of East Haven, whom Patton introduced as her “best friend” gave Barrett an unopened blanket that was a special gift that came with him being invited to Trump’s inauguration.

The devout Trump fan — described by his largely Democratic family as a Republican through and through — also received a heartfelt note from Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump saying the president and entire family were “touched” by his story and are thinking of him. The notecard cover is the Trump family insignia.

Barrett, who is in the end stages of cystic fibrosis, was released from Yale New Haven Hospital last week to begin hospice care at the West Haven home of his sister, Democratic First District City Councilwoman Bridgette Hoskie.

Part what has made Barrett’s story resonate worldwide — he has heard from publications in Egypt and Japan — is that his politically active sister, Hoskie, is “100 percent Democrat” and made it all happen by putting the word out across the political aisle about her brother’s wishes. Hoskie said at the time that Barrett is her baby brother and politics and religion shouldn’t separate families.

Barrett said Saturday, “My sister is 100 percent Democrat and I’m 100 percent Republican, but we love each other.” Even Trump called Hoskie a “great sister” during his call with the president.

Barrett said he’s lost friends over his love of Trump, but, “Politics shouldn’t divide us.”

As a result, folks from both political parties dropped their differences and worked to get Barrett’s wishes fulfilled.

In a move perhaps less likely to happen in West Haven than a presidential telephone call, Rossi on Saturday declared March 5 as “Political Unity Day,” as that was the day West Haven folks of both political parties, “came together and put political differences aside to request the last wish,” of Barrett to speak with Trump. That was the date of Trump’s call to Barrett.

The proclamation read by Rossi urges all residents to join her in “commending the President of the United States for his compassion in this difficult time.”

Rossi said she’s always for both parties working together.

Barrett got the attention of the Trump family through Patton, who is originally from New Haven, via Facebook, after a story appeared in Hearst Connecticut Media about how Hoskie was on a campaign to get folks to email the White House to see if they could get Trump to send a card or email to Barrett, as his time is running out. His biggest wish still is to visit Washington and his fantasy is to run into Trump and shake his hand.

“There’s nothing that’s going to stop me from doing anything — except God himself,” Barrett said.

The day after the first Hearst Connecticut Media story ran, Eric Trump called and on Wednesday, the president himself made a surprise call Barrett. They chatted like buddies — Barrett even used a few swear words — and the president told him to “keep fighting” because the campaign needs fighters. Trump also promised Barrett that when he has a rally in this area Barrett will be front and center.

Barrett, a fighter by nature, is hoping to defy the odds of six months or less to live and beat back the congenital illness that requires him to be on oxygen around the clock. Barrett told Trump he intends to vote for him in 2020.

Among those gathered at the Hoskie home to see Barrett receive his gifts were his mother, Glenda Barrett of New Haven, who fought back tears of joy seeing her son so happy. She lost another son soon after birth to CF.

“I think he deserves it — he’s been fighting for 44 years,” Glenda Barrett said, referring to the illness her son has had since birth.

There were a few giggles in the room when Hoskie — who describes herself as “100 percent Democrat” — received a Trump campaign T-shirt as a gift from Patton, who while handing it to her said, “You can sleep with it.”

To which Hoskie said, “I can do a couple of things with it.” Laster, Hoskie said she may use it to dust.

Barrett’s best friend since childhood, Mike Milano of New Haven, said all the hubbub has lifted Barrett’s spirits.

“It was good for him,” Milano said of the attention Barrett has received.

Rossi, a close friend of Hoskie told Barrett, “I think you look a lot better since all this happened.”

After the gift presentation, Patton, Carocci, Barrett, Hoskie, Rossi and others headed toward a fundraising West Haven Pizza Wars event at the West Haven Italian American Club, which sparked a Facebook firestorm among Republicans at the event who couldn’t wait to meet Patton.

The gift from Carocci — Patton’s best friend — had a special meaning because he belongs to a charitable group, New Haven’s Finest, which raises money for cystic fibrosis, the congenital disease that Barrett has suffered since birth. Carocci told Barrett when he handed him his gift the goal is to change the abbreviation “CF” to stand for “Cure Found” rather than cystic fibrosis.

“All that has happened means a lot to me because none of it had to happen,” Barrett said.