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Preschoolers Raise Money For Dying Classmate's Funeral

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Jonathan Rivera’s classmates have a bulletin board dedicated to him. "We Love You, Jonathan," is written in the middle.

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 22, 2008

Updated: 02/22/2008 05:07 pm

TAMPA - Five-year-old Jonathan Rivera should be playing with his tiny toy dinosaurs and learning how to sound out words. He should be in his Head Start class surrounded by classmates who sing at the tops of their lungs each and every morning, eager for show-and-tell to start.

Jonathan hasn't made it to class the past few weeks.

"He's not been feeling well," his teacher's assistant, Marta Fernandez, said this morning.

Jonathan's situation is grave. He is facing an untimely death. He's home under the care of Hospice, afflicted with terminal cancer. His classmates, 19 of them, are trying to raise money to help Jonathan's family pay for a funeral. That's not something 3- and 4-year-olds should have to do, but they are eager to help.

Nobody knows whether they understand what is going on.

They have a bulletin board dedicated to Jonathan. Pictures of him and them form a sad collage. "We Love You, Jonathan," is written in the middle. Just below: "Te Queremos Mucho."

Fernandez points to recent photos where Jonathan went to the Lowry Park Zoo with his family, something he has always wanted to do. He is pictured on the river cruise, gazing at the riverbank as it glided past.

Fernandez points to another photo. The children look up. "There's Jonathan riding a camel," she said.

"I rode a camel," one 3-year-old pipes up.

"Jonathan came to our class a couple of months ago, and he has touched our hearts and our lives," Fernandez said during a short break from the noisy and hectic room. The class made valentine cards for him last week.

"He is sick," she said, "but it's been a blessing for myself to have him in my class and to get to know him."

Reminders are everywhere here. On the east wall is a mat map, showing where kids are to put down their nap mats. Jonathan is in position No. 6. Jonathan's little brother, Angel, just 3 years old and in a glum mood this morning, is in another classroom.

Jonathan likely won't be back. It's difficult for some to talk about.

Jonathan's condition has worsened over recent weeks. Last night, he was up most of the night, said his mom, Mary Beltran. He was sleeping late this morning; he probably won't be up until afternoon.

He's doing things now that he has always wanted to do. The big wishes of a 5-year-old are simple. Earlier this week, he went to the zoo and took the boat ride. If he's up to it, he's going back Sunday.

And life goes on at his school.

Ray Edwards, a social worker with the Head Start program on North Lois Avenue, said he met Jonathan when his mom brought his brother in to enroll in August.

The program is for 3- and 4-year-olds, but the rules were bent slightly for Jonathan.

"His mother wanted to enroll him," Edwards said. "But, since he was in treatment, she wasn't sure that was the proper thing to do. We waited until she was sure of that. He enrolled here early December."

Edwards said Jonathan fit in "very, very well."

"That was his wish," Edwards said, "to go to school with his brother. He was really ready for it."

Other kids had some adjusting to do, he said. Jonathan was bald from the chemotherapy treatment, he said. It took a few hours before the other students began to understand, as best they could, what was going on.

"We knew he was terminal." Edwards said. "That situation was very unique here. It's very difficult because it gets to you. There were times when he was in a lot of pain."

Eventually, the other students got it. "We talked to them. They've seen him," said Tonya Morris, one of Jonathan's teachers. "We read stories to explain his health condition. I don't know if they really understand his health condition, but they're really good with him."

Now, they're trying to raise money for Jonathan's family.

They sent letters out to parents and organizations asking for donations. Letters went out this week, Morris said, and everyone's waiting to hear back.

"It's for Mom's expenses," Morris said, "for burying and to help her raise her other children."

Morris took a breath when asked about Jonathan.

"He's a bright student, caring and loving," she said. "He loves to play with his dinosaurs and interacts well with the others. It's really touching."

For information about contributions to the family of Jonathan Rivera, contact Ray Edwards at the Head Start on Lois Avenue in Tampa, (813) 554-5084.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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