“A child raised right”
We’ve all seen children that we wonder why the parents don’t make them behave, or why they didn’t take the time “to raise them right”. Well, sometimes we forget to celebrate those kids who make not only their parents proud, but we as a community proud as well.
One such child is 10-year old Jonathan Mathis, son of Kirk and Jeannine Mathis. In April of this year, Jonathan’s ankle started hurting at night. His parents took him to the doctor who had all kinds of tests done (x-rays, bone scans, MRI, CT scans and of course, a ton of blood work). As the results came back it was discovered to be a tumor above his right ankle. As a parent, your heart would sink and you would hold your son in your arms and never want to let him go.
Jonathan had surgery to remove the tumor in June and a little piece was found to be malignant. He was diagnosed with Osteo-sarcoma a week later. In mid-July he started his first chemo treatments.
Then in September Kirk and Jeannine took Jonathan and his two other siblings to the Macon County Fair. Bo Bryant was working at the Angel Medical Center’s booth and Kirk and his family stopped to chat with Bo. Bo gave all the children AMC band aids and as she talked with Kirk and Jeannine about the new digital mammography and the incredible results for the people in Macon County, young Jonathan said he had lost his dollar and kept trying to find it in his pockets. As a mom who has emptied many pockets in a 10-year old’ pants, you can imagine the ‘treasures’ you can find. Well, as we often do as adults, no one was paying much attention to Jonathan until he finally found that crumpled dollar bill and dropped it in the jar for the digital mammography on the table. As the conversation came to an abrupt stop, he looked up at the 3 adults staring at him and he said, “I wanted to help someone else.”
The parents smiled, Bo fought back tears and thanked him. It makes you realize that not only are there lots of good kids in this world, but lots of great parents who have “raised their kid’s right”. Folks who just want to help other people and especially folk’s right here in Franklin for our hospital.
And Jonathan—he had surgery a few weeks ago and part of the bone in his leg was removed. He will be in a wheelchair for the next 12 to 18 months while they wait for a bone graft to heal. The whole family is in good spirits and Jonathan is a trooper—an inspiration. Jonathan’s actions make you take a moment to give thanks and hug your own good kid. Thanks, Jonathan.
Tags: Angel Medical Center, Franklin
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