Doumit family living a dream

MOSES LAKE — Every parent wants the same thing for their child — to find joy in what they do.

Ryan Doumit’s parents Faith and Pete are no exception.

“As a parent you always want your kids to do what they love,” Faith Doumit said. “I sometimes have to pinch myself. It’s hard to believe.”

Ryan Doumit, a 1999 graduate of Moses Lake High School, is a professional baseball player and a catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Faith said her son is living his dream playing professional baseball, but he will always love Washington state.

“Even though he works on the East Coast, Washington will always be his home,” she said.

Although he works in Pennsylvania, Ryan will be home for Christmas.

“This Christmas will be very special,” she said.

Ryan recently purchased a house in Spokane and will be hosting his first Christmas for the Doumit family.

“It’s a big deal for him,” Pete said. “He wanted to host Christmas for his brothers and parents.”

With the holiday season approaching, Pete said it is special when he and his wife can get together with their children and grandchildren.

“As kids get older and establish families, it’s harder to get together for Christmas,” he said. “Any time we have an opportunity to be with our children and grandchildren it is a special time.”

Although Ryan spends the better part of the year in Pittsburgh, Pete said Ryan’s heart lies with his family.

“Ryan is a very family-oriented person,” Pete said. “He is the youngest. For him to be able to (host Christmas) is special.”

Pete and Faith are proud of all their children and they appreciate the opportunities their children have.

“We count our blessings every day,” he said.

With Christmas approaching and the Doumits coming together for the holiday, Pete and Faith are thankful for Ryan’s opportunity to play the game he loves.

“He’s living his dream,” she said. “He always believed this is what he would always do.”

Pete said he is thankful for every day his son suits up for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“Prior to having a son play in the major leagues it is something you can only imagine,” he said. “Suddenly, you are watching TV and this guy standing on second base has your last name on his shirt.”

Ryan’s dream began to become a reality in 2005.

On a warm June afternoon nearly four years ago, Pete Doumit was listening to his son Ryan’s AAA game on the Internet.

“That was the biggest, fastest whirlwind,” she said. “It was a Saturday and we had been watching his AAA game on the computer.”

While his parents were watching the game on the Internet, the phone rang.

Pete looked at the caller ID on the phone and saw that Ryan was calling.

“I thought that he had gotten hurt,” Pete said, because Ryan’s team was in the middle of a baseball game.

Pete was apprehensive when he answered the phone before hearing his son’s voice.

“His first words were, ‘Dad, I’m going to the show,’” Pete said. “Those are the words you dream about hearing but you never know what would happen.”

When Ryan got the news he would make his major league debut the following day, he was confused. 

“The bases were loaded in the first or second inning,” Pete said of his sons call-up. “He had been the RBI leader in the International League. When Ryan was about to hit, his coach sent in a pinch hitter.”

Pete said his son was confused until Ryan saw his manager’s face.

“The coach had a smile on his face and he told Ryan, ‘You’re on your way,’” Pete said.

After their son received the news he would make his Major League Baseball debut on Sunday, June 5, 2005, the Doumits called their son’s agent.

“We immediately called his agents,” she said. “His agents are wonderful.”

Ryan’s agent arranged for Faith and Pete to fly out to Pittsburgh that Monday to watch their son’s home debut in Pittsburgh.

“They picked up the tab on the whole (trip),” Pete said.

Although his parents did not see his major-league debut, they were able to see him record his first hit.

“We were there to watch him get his first hit as a major leaguer,” she said.

Although Ryan plays baseball more than 2,300 miles away, his parents never miss a game from their home in Moses Lake.

“We have the package,” Faith said of her family’s television subscription. “We get to see every game.”

With Ryan coming home for Christmas, the entire Doumit family will be together for the holidays and Faith is grateful.

“This offseason really has been fun,” she said. “(Ryan) is truly happy. (We) have been very blessed.”