Elementary Students become "Guardian Angels" for 11-year-old going through Treatment for Leukemia
"…we're trying to help her feel better."
(Florida)—WEAR-TV reports on a class of third-graders at St. Paul Elementary who've been lending their encouragement, support and prayers to Jessica Potthoff, an 11-year-old who'd been undergoing Leukemia treatments.
Calling themselves Jessica's "guardian angels," the students send hand-made cards, letters and balloons to help lift her spirits. "…we're trying to help her feel better," says Grace, one of the students. (Photo: WEAR-TV ABC)
Social Worker, Julie Eggen, who works at the Nemours Children's Clinic where Jessica receives care, facilitated the relationship between patient and students. According to the report, Jessica has responded to their kindness, and to their prayers.
Recently, she visited the third-graders in their classroom, looking over the area they'd named "Jessica's Corner," containing letters she written back to them. "I wanted to meet them," said Jessica, "talk to them, tell them what I had. And have some fun with them. They're really special to me, It's like, uh, they're my friends."
The initial thought, says Julie, was to pray for Jessica. At one point the students tied prayer notes to a bunch of balloons to say, "Our prayers are reaching up for you."
Student James Struck noted that when he says his bedtime prayers with his father, he also says "a prayer for Jessica."
Watch the WEAR-TV video report at the link provided.
