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LEHI — In Elodia Spray's preschool class in Lehi, the children are preparing for kindergarten and the years to come. Their teacher is guiding that journey. Lately, the lessons are taking a more serious tone. A beloved classmate is not there.
"I miss him," said one student. "He is special to me."
"He is very sick," said another student.
This isn't just any ordinary classmate.
"Spike is our classroom pet," said Mrs. Spray. "He's a bearded dragon and the sweetest, loving pet you could ever have."
A loving class pet with a serious illness. "(The veterinarian) thinks at this point he has cancer," Spray said.
The cost to give Spike a fighting chance is not cheap.
"Between his medicines they gave me, so far it's $387.00, so pretty expensive yeah," Spray said.
However, Mrs. Spray took on the financial burden alone.
"I would never ask anyone to help, either," she said.
Turns out she didn't have to. Sometimes little ears listen closer than we think and can recognize a need.
"I never would have thought they would want to raise the money themselves," she said.
On Tuesday, the students with the help of their parents stood put together a neighborhood snack stand. They held signs and passed out food to their customers. The children, who are still learning to read, are teaching all a little something about helping a friend — with or without scales.
"I started crying," Spray said. "It was the sweetest most amazing gesture to know that four and five-year-olds knew what it meant to spend that money and take care of him and help."
No one knows if Spike will make it, but now, a lifelong educator knows the children she's guiding are heading in the right direction.
"Even though they're four and five, they understand those important details in life," she said. "They understand what life means."
By the end of Tuesday, the children raised $128.30 and are now turning to raising money online through a GoFundMe* page.
\KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk. *
