Just one month before his fourth birthday (May 12, 2006), Jason Hughes, a student at the Children's Discovery Center, was diagnosed with astrocytoma, a fast-growing brain tumor. Teachers, parents and preschoolers at the center, sponsored by the Riverside Community Adventist Church, enveloped Jason and his family with love and flooded them with gifts and cards.
Within three days, Jason underwent his first surgery at UCLA Medical Center to remove the tumor. More surgeries followed. In the meantime, the little boy with an infectious smile received physical therapy at home and chemotherapy at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.
To help him celebrate his fourth birthday in the hospital, his preschool teacher Denise Savala and his friends recorded a video of "Happy Birthday" and sent messages and get well wishes.
"This fun-loving, little boy was such a happy child and brought so much joy to us. He seemed to know everyone," Laura Parker-Gervais, center director, commented.
Local floral shop employees, touched by Jason's story, created a special care package for him that included flowers and a book made by his friends. The preschool parents, Riverside Community and La Sierra Spanish churches raised a significant amount of money to help the Hughes family with expenses. A preschool client mailed encouragement packages each week at her own expense from the preschoolers to Jason.
The Discovery Center is now in its 25th year. Eleven teachers minister to the 98 children, 70 percent of whom are not Adventist, including Jason. "You are going to turn our kids into Adventists, they love you so much," said one mother.
"I'm blessed to have the staff I have," says Parker-Gervais. "We witness to the families about who we are by the loving way we treat their children."
On Sept. 19, the school hosted a party, "Jason's Roundup." Two hundred people arrived to show their support. The Southeastern California Conference office of education donated cowboy hats for the Western theme, and Eric Brown, pastor of the Riverside church, brought his horse to entertain the children. Jason got the first ride.
Even though all the attendees were smiling and laughing, their hearts were aching for the boy so willing to love and be loved. "You've touched a lot of lives, little cowboy, ‘Be strong and of a good courage,' (Joshua 1:9) We'll meet you in heaven."
Jason passed away on Nov. 11. The center is finishing a portfolio about Jason with his drawings and art work to give to his family. "As a result of our loving experience with Jason, parents here seem to look at their children a little differently now and draw closer to them," says, Parker-Gervais.
