Five-year-old Tomoy Wilson, a student at the Holy Family Infant and Primary School on Laws Street in downtown Kingston, makes a contribution for Ashley Anderson yesterday during a special devotion held at the school. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer.

"This must never, ever happen to another Jamaican child."

That was the common plea yesterday morning as parents, teachers, students and other well-wishers gathered at the Holy Family Infant and Primary School on Laws Street in downtown Kingston to bring support to Ashley Anderson.

The eight-year-old has been left in a vegetative state since September last year when she was tragically hit in the head by a bullet at the gate to her home. The bullet is now lodged in her skull and the fragments scattered in her brain.

Ashley now represents another of Jamaica's many gems that have been robbed of an opportunity to realise their full potential.

Cecile Palmer, principal of the school, yesterday told The Gleaner that Ashley, who is affectionately called 'Peach', was not even able to start the third year of her primary education because of the dreadful incident.

Unfortunate incident

"She was in grade two and was promoted to grade three but this unfortunate incident that took place in September has robbed her," she said.

Palmer said she had been watching Ashley's growth and performance since she was at the infant school level and she was on a path to excellence. "She was attentive to her work," she said.

The school, in collaboration with the Kiwanis Club of downtown Kingston, yesterday organised a special morning devotion on behalf of Ashley and her family, where she was presented with a wheelchair and other gifts.

"As family, we thought it was important for us to come together and support Ashley's mother, who has been having it very hard," Palmer said.

"We sent out notices to the parents and asked them to give the students a little something extra to give."

Individuals turned out in their numbers yesterday, giving what little they had in support of Ashley.

Kadian McIntosh, Ashley's mother, was overwhelmed by the enormous show of affection.

"I'm so grateful for everything. My heart is full of tears," she said, as she struggled to hide the physical signs of her sorrow. "I'm asking God for strength," she added.

The mother of three said the last few months had been very difficult but she was trying hard to persevere.

She said Ashley was a very helpful child who would always look out for others. "She always said she wanted to be a nurse because she liked to help people."

Assisting others

McIntosh recalled that in grade one a teacher called to complain that Ashley was assisting other students with their exams.

"When I asked her why she did it she said because the student didn't know her work and she didn't want her to fail. The student ended up getting more than her in the test," her mother said.

The Holy Family Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) also organised a curfew programme, through which they have been encouraging parents to ensure that their children are off the streets by 8:30 p.m.

"But we also want you to be inside with them, to guide them, to guard them, because that is the only way we are going to protect them," pleaded Conrad Senior, president of the school's PTA.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com

Students at the Holy Family Infant and Primary School on Laws Street in downtown Kingston anxiously line up to make their own small contribution to their former schoolmate, Ashley Anderson. The youngster was shot at her gate and is now in a vegetative state but her friends have not given up. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

God's love

A mum's love is God's love in action. She looks with her heart and feels with her eyes. A mum is the bank where her children deposit their worries and hurt. A mum is the cement that keeps her family together and her love lasts a lifetime.

A poem recited by Kadian McIntosh, the mother of eight-year-old Ashley Anderson