Greensboro, NC-- The staff and community surrounding Archer Elementary School are raising money to help the family of a very ill third-grade student.
Two Archer Elementary School teachers detected something was wrong with their student, Melanie Mayo-Tornez, when she would shake uncontrollably during assignments and started walking funny. Teachers tell News 2 it seemed to have happened all of a sudden.
Miss Lakisha Graham said, "It kind of brought to mind someone who has suffered a stroke. She washaving a hard time just being able to move, the tremors, just all those things I was observing with her that day."
"Her right foot was kind of slapping the sidewalk which I had never noticed before and she didn't know I was watching and alarm bells went off", added ESL Teacher, Cindy Hilbinger.
Theteachers brought their observations to the family. Melanie was later diagnosed with, "Acute Cerebellar Ataxia", essentially a cold virus settling around her brain.
Mrs. Hilbinger said the mother in her kicked in when she saw the desperation in her student's face. She knew something was severely wrong with the usually vibrant, sweet student.
"It's just not7-3 with June, July, and August off, that's just not true. We carry these children home with us every day in our hearts", Mrs. Hilbinger told News 2.
Melanie is currently in Brenner's Children Hospital in Winston-Salem but her parents with three other children are struggling to get by. Soon she'll be transferred to treatment in Charlotte to begin physical therapy.
Archer Elementary School has rallied behind the Mayo-Tornez family to help them pay their bills and gas traveling to and from the hospital.
A Wells Fargo account has been set up. The account number is: 9221603658 for The Family of Mayo-Tornez. Since the principal of Archer Elementary sent out a letter to her staff and community asking for help, they've already raised $2700.
Read the original here:
3rd Grader With Brain Virus Gets Community Support