The bond between a Ralston teacher and her fifth-grader is stronger than ever. Janice Rhodes is grieving for her son. He recently passed away after being treated for a rare heart problem. But about a month earlier, fifth-grader Adrianna Case stepped in to help out in a big way. It’s been about two weeks since Rhodes lost a big piece of his world. “I think about his smile. I honestly think about him now. at peace,” said Rhods. Their 5 1/2-month-old son, Caden, suffered from hypoplastic left heart syndrome. “His life was full of pain and hospital stays. He was happiest when he was out. And he only made it for a couple of months,” said Rhods. “Of the 5 and a half months he was alive, he was home for two of them.” In November, Caden came down with a common cold that led to a fever and an elevated heart rate.” It all escalated very quickly,” Rhods said. Caden died on November 17th. “A combination of all of that, they think his heart was overworking. His heart was super, super fragile,” said Rhods. Rhodes teaches fifth grade at Karen Western Elementary School. in Ralston. So far this year, he has spent a lot of time outside the classroom to be with Caden. “You’re trying to be there for your son and my other two kids that I have at home and then there’s me too. trying to be there for my students,” she said. Rhodes student Case became aware of that struggle about a month before Caden’s death and decided he wanted to do whatever he could to help. “I got him a blanket and I felt like it wasn’t enough, so I started a GoFundMe,” Case said. With the help of his mother, Case was able to set up a GoFundMe, raising $2,000 for his favorite teacher. “I thought. It would just be, not like $2,000. I thought it would be like a couple hundred dollars,” Case said. For Rhodes, the joy of it all is much more than the money. “It’s more of, what did he do to show his compassion and care for others. Because he demonstrated that for me, I know he would do it for other people,” Rhods said. “I really love him,” Case said of Rhodes. Rhodes said he will. back to work on monday She said she doesn’t think she would be able to pull through if it wasn’t for her amazing students like Adrianna.
It’s been about two weeks since Rhodes lost a big part of his world.
“I think of his smile. Honestly, I think of him now at peace,” said Rhods.
Their son Caden, 5 1/2 months old, suffered from hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
“His life was full of pain and hospital stays. He was happiest when he was out, and he only got that for a couple of months,” said Rhods. “Of the 5 1/2 months he was alive, he was home for two of them.”
In November, Caden came down with a common cold that resulted in a fever and an elevated heart rate.
“It all escalated very quickly,” Rhods said.
Caden died on November 17th.
“A combination of all of that, they think his heart was overworking. His heart was super, super fragile,” Rhods said.
Rhods teaches fifth grade at Karen Western Elementary School in Ralston. So far this year, he has spent a lot of time outside the classroom to be with Caden.
“You’re trying to be there for your son and my other two kids that I have at home and then I’m trying to be there for my students as well,” she said.
Rhodes student Case became aware of that struggle about a month before Caden died, and decided he wanted to do whatever he could to help.
“I got him a blanket and I felt like it wasn’t enough, so I started a GoFundMe,” Case said.
With the help of his mother, Case was able to create one GoFundMeraising $2,000 for their favorite teacher.
“I thought it would be, not like $2,000. I thought it would be like a couple hundred dollars,” Case said.
For Rhodes, the joy of it all is much more than the money.
“It’s more than just what he did to show his compassion and care for others. Because he showed it to me, I know he would do it to other people,” Rhods said.
“I really love her,” Case said of Rhodes.
Rhodes said he will return to work on Monday. She said she doesn’t think she would be able to pull through if it wasn’t for her amazing students like Adrianna.