Corbin church to build playground in honor of ‘Superman Ozzy’

Above, Kelly Jo and Joey Falkowski, of Corbin, pictured with their infant son Oscar "Ozzy" Falkowski earlier this year. Ozzy died in June from complications related to a heart defect, but his story sparked a community-wide support effort.

Oscar “Ozzy” Falkowski lived for only three months and 23 days, but one Corbin church is undertaking an effort to make sure his inspirational legacy is never forgotten.

Mike Addison, Lead Pastor at New Hope Ministries, said plans are underway to install a playground this coming spring dedicated to “Baby Ozzy” on the church grounds located on KY Hwy. 1232 just outside of Corbin. It will be called “Ozzy’s Play Place.”

“When Ozzy went to Heaven, it was a devastating time for us … but we felt like his story was so inspirational that it should live on,” Addison said. “I don’t know of anyone else, this year in the City of Corbin, has ignited, unified and inspired this community like Ozzy did.”

Ozzy was diagnosed, before he was even born, with a heart defect called “coarctation” of the aorta — a narrowing of the main artery that leads from the heart to the rest of the body. Doctors later discovered a second problem that would also require surgery shortly after he was born.

Ozzy was born on Feb. 26 of this year and died on June 19.

Kelly Jo White-Falkowski, Ozzy’s mother and an 11-year member at New Hope, said she and her husband, Joey Falkowski, had their son home for only a day before he had to be flown to Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville because he’d gone into cardiac shock.

At Kosair, Ozzy underwent 10 separate surgeries and 17 other procedures.

During the long hospital stay, it was a post on the social media website Facebook by his mother that led to the ubiquitous symbol that became synonymous with his name — Superman’s emblem with the word “Ozzy” superimposed on top.

“I called him my little Superman because of all that he went through … it was really surprising he made it as long as he did,” Kelly Jo said. “The next thing I know, it just went crazy all over social media. I have no idea who came up with the logo with his name on it but there were t-shirts made and all this Superman stuff that was sent to the hospital. It was amazing.”

Kelly Jo said people would message her regularly, many from Corbin and the surrounding area, but even as far away as places like Switzerland, Brazil and the Marshall Islands wanting to know how “Superman Ozzy” was doing.

“He was a little missionary. He reached more people than anyone could in a lifetime.”

Addison said one of the purposes of the playground is to try to keep the passion Ozzy brought out in people going … make it so that generations later, kids playing at “Ozzy’s Playplace” will want to know its namesake’s story.

“I’ve been in ministry for 17 years and I’ve never got people to pray like Ozzy got people to pray. I never got people to go to church the way Ozzy got people to come to church,” Addison said. “We have people who came to church now who came to faith in Jesus Christ through this story of Ozzy fighting to live every single day. He was a soul winner.”

“We don’t want to lose that inspirational story … We felt like a playground would be a perfect place that when children come there to play, we will have Ozzy’s log right there and they will see that and ask about him, and we will be able to tell this story about never giving up and never giving in. It’s a story that needs to live on.”

Kelly Jo said she was thrilled with the idea of dedicating a playground to Ozzy, and doesn’t shy away from talking about her son at the risk of dredging up painful memories.

“I love when people ask me about him and we talk about him,” she said. “The playground is precious. I will never forget him and I don’t want anyone to ever forget him.”

The playground is estimated to cost about $25,000. About $5,000 has been raised. Addison said contributions are currently being sought and that anyone who contributes $500 or more will earn an inscribed brick that can be dedicated to a family member, or contain some other message. The bricks will be installed in a “Wall of Remembrance” at the playground.

A silent auction fundraiser is currently underway on Kelly Jo White-Falkowski’s Facebook page for a stay at two cabins in Gatlinburg, Tenn. to help with the effort. Anyone interested is encouraged to send her a private message to bid on the auction.
Donations can always be made through New Hope Ministries by contacting Mike Addison at 606-528-5575.