Bus 142 in Medina collects money to help student with bone marrow transplant
Kasiah Jones, a fourth grader, is moving to Atlanta to be close to doctors
MEDINA – Kasiah Jones, 9, (center) is pictured with her mother, Jennifer Chinn, this afternoon along with other students that ride Bus 142 in the Village of Medina.
Kasiah has Sickle Cell Anemia and Type 1 Diabetes. She is undergoing a medical trial at a hospital in Atlanta, Ga. She has been travelling back and forth each month since January and her family, including five other siblings, are planning to move to Atlanta this summer to be closer to the hospital.
Her friends on the bus collected money with a bucket for loose change last month. That added up to $125 and Rob Dennis, the district’s transportation director, agreed to match what the students raised, making the total donation about $250.
Rob Dennis holds one of the jars used to collect change for Kasiah and her family to help them with the cost of relocating to Atlanta.
Kasiah was born with Sickle Cell Anemia and was diagnosed at age 4 with Type One Diabetes. The diabetes has become more severe. Kasiah’s mother said no hospitals in Buffalo or Rochester do bone marrow trials for the problem affecting Kasiah.
“These kids felt helpless when they heard what Kasiah was going through,” said bus driver Cindy Ames. “This is what they accomplished with pennies, nickels and dimes.”
Kasiah is presented with jars of change from her friends, from left: Elijah Nottingham, Miyah Horn, Kasiah and Zackius Chinn.
Kasiah’s family and friends also organized a benefit last Saturday at Medina Theatre. There were 105 baskets with items up for bid and several bands played.
Jennifer Chinn said she appreciates the support from the community helping the family with their relocation expenses.
“On my God it has been magnificent,” she said about the donations and support. “I just want to say thank you for going above and beyond.”
There is a GoFundMe created to help Kasiah and her family. Click here for more information.
Another donation came in for Kasiah and her family today from her friends on Bus 142. Justine Fitzsimmons, second from right, and Marie Morehouse, right, present a bag full of change to Kasiah.
