#lovekennedy

[spiritsniget]

Jasper is one of the boys in the class that I student taught in. Because I did my internship from January through April, I only had about a week with Jasper during April because he can’t risk catching the flu. Although, he is (for all intents and purposes) blind, he is eager to to learn and to help us teachers and the other students. Jasper’s sense of humor is on point and he was quick to adopt me into a circle of people that he trusted. The other kids in our class just loved him, and they would often ask my mentor and I, “Is Jasper coming today?”

I’m asking for help because I love this kid. It was hard as a teacher (or student teacher at any rate) to know that your student has a fatal disease before you even meet him. I almost started crying one day in class when he was telling about his dreams of being a farmer because Jasper doesn’t know that what he has is fatal, and I know that by the time he’s old enough to farm, if he is still alive, he will be bedbound.

Currently, his momma and dad are trying to raise money to get him accepted into a research program out in Texas with the goal that the program will extend the life (hopefully the good parts) of someone who has Batten Disease.

Please, share this to get the word out. Even if you can’t donate money or time, please share it so that it can get to more people who do have resources to help. 

Also, as a side note, I don’t know how many of you have watched or have heard of the movie “Love, Kennedy.” This movie is about Kennedy, a girl with Batten Disease. Kennedy is a real girl and she did indeed die from Batten disease. She and her family are from the same area as Jasper and his family. 

Anyways, please, if you can, please donate. If you are leary about websites that popup on Tumblr (which, I totally get), there is also an account at America First Credit Union and you can say that you’re donating for Chase the Cure.