Ru’s Roots Bringing Barrier-Free Adaptive Fitness to Opelika

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA — In June 2023, the Garst family felt everything was perfect in their lives when they welcomed their third child, Ruthie, into the world. What came next for them shattered their lives as they were — but now it’s their reason for starting an adaptive gym called Ru’s Roots. At five weeks old, Ruthie became sick with a blood disorder, and about a week later, she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that led to an emergency life flight to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. The Garsts spent 10 days with her there and originally had hope they’d take her home, but when she lost brain activity due to unexpected brain swelling, Ruthie passed away. “Since then, everything has been a bit of a blur,” Hannah wrote on the Ru’s Roots website. “Clearly marriage is toug