A young man fighting cancer had his biggest dream come true at a Newton County middle school on Friday.
Jonah Barnett has gone through a lot in his 11 years. Doctors found a tumor on his brain when he was just 13 months old.
After a decade of fighting the terminal disease, Jonah lost the ability to speak. Recently, as his condition worsened, he lost the ability to walk.
"When he was at St. Judes recently and they were talking to the children about their aspirations, their dreams, one of the things that was a goal for him --one of the things he was looking forward to -- was just graduating fifth grade and moving on to middle school," said Dr. Lori Thomas, principal of Flint Hill Elementary School in Newton.
So Flint Hill Elementary School got to work to make Jonah's dream come true.
"It went from us having a small graduation to the whole school involved, the high school band coming and doing the graduation march, and the graduation gown and it was just amazing. And the middle school picked up and said, ‘We want to give him that experience,'" said Lynice Barnett, Jonah's mom.
On Friday, Cousins Middle School welcomed Jonah as one of their own.
"It just shows you how much kindness and how much love the kids have," said Lynice Barnett.
During an afternoon pep rally, Jonah became a sixth grade student at the big school just like he dreamed -- maybe even better than his dreams.
"I think it has touched him and his family in a way that is indescribable by words," Thomas said.
Jonah will be the special manager for the middle school's boys' basketball game on Friday night.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:44 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:44:17 GMT
A Jasper County teen was reunited with an EMT who helped save her life 13 years ago.
A Jasper County teen was reunited with an EMT who helped save her life 13 years ago. FOX 5 viewers provided information that led Alyssa Haskew to the moment she's waited more than a decade for: to say thank you to Scott Thomas.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:34 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:34:58 GMT
Parents are asking about the safety of the schools in the event of a tornado after the devastation suffered in Moore, Okla.
Parents are asking about the safety of the schools in the event of a tornado after the devastation suffered in Moore, Okla. School and emergency officials insist having kids sheltered in school buildings rather than being picked up is the best solution.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:22 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:22:14 GMT
Tea party groups and Georgia Republican leaders are gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday to protest the targeting of conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service.
Tea party groups and Georgia Republican leaders are gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday to protest the targeting of conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:17 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:17:01 GMT
The wives of Atlanta police and firefighters have put up billboards telling Mayor Kasim Reed and the Atlanta City Council to give their spouses a pay raise.
The wives of Atlanta police and firefighters have put up billboards telling Mayor Kasim Reed and the Atlanta City Council to give their spouses a pay raise.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:24 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:24:51 GMT
Southern Baptists in metro Atlanta are doing their part to assist victims of Tuesday's violent twisters.
Southern Baptists in metro Atlanta are doing their part to assist victims of Tuesday's violent twisters.The North American Mission Board has volunteers on the ground in Oklahoma and more relief is on the
Tuesday, May 21 2013 4:04 PM EDT2013-05-21 20:04:30 GMT
A Douglasville family is asking for help to try to find their missing daughter. Jacqueline Bryant, 15, was last seen on April 12 and now she's the subject of a nationwide alert.
A Douglasville family is asking for help to try to find their missing daughter. Jacqueline Bryant, 15, was last seen on April 12 and now she's the subject of a nationwide alert.
WTTG FOX 5 & myfoxdc 5151 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016 Main Number: (202) 244-5151 Newsroom: (202) 895-3000 fox5tips@wttg.com
