TO LEXIE, WITH LOVE
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

Lexie Nichols

Rusk has a remarkable little girl in Abigail Willis, a second grade student of Tammy Rasberry at Rusk Elementary School.

Many Cherokeean Herald readers will remember Abigail's Christmas letter to Santa Claus. She wrote "Every year I get almost everything I want for Christmas. I have been thinking of all those little kids that don't have much. This year I want to ask you to comfort those who don't have much. Please give to those who need. Thanks Santa." Abigail really took the Christmas spirit home last December. She meant every word of her letter to Santa.

During December, she learned that Lexie, a niece of her teacher, Tammy Rasberry, is suffering from leukemia. The two-year-old daughter of Terry and Leslie Nichols of Appleby, near Nacogdoches, is suffering from acute lythocytic cancer.

Little Lexie, who will be three-years-old on May 13, takes chemo treatments in Houston. She has had three or four blood transfusions, Mrs. Rasberry said. This child and her illness touched Abigail.

Mrs. Rasberry said, "Upon returning from Christmas break, Abigail told me that she had something special for Lexie. That afternoon after school, I met Abigail and her family in the teacher parking lot. My heart was overwhelmed. With tears flowing down my cheeks, Abigail presented me with a basket in which she designed and decorated for Lexie. It was filled with snacks, magazines, a Precious Moments prayer doll, Beauty and the Beast pj's, socks and the most precious gift of all, all of her Christmas money in the form of a Wal-Mart card. She told me, 'Lexie's family needed it more than me.'"

Abigail and plant gift

Later as the class was preparing to go to lunch one day, Abigail's mother came into the classroom with a large purple hanging basket of petunias.

Abigail designated a "Love for Lexie" plant sale day at her mother's plant business. All of the proceeds went to Lexie's fund.

Mrs. Rasberry said, "I cried on my way home from school thinking about events of the day and the school year. I was reminded that all things have a purpose. I felt God's holy and gracious spirit fill my soul. It is the most wonderful feeling of all. 'And a child shall lead them.' "Thank you God for revealing your spirit through the heart of a child. As educators, we are genuinely blessed to be a part of a child's life," she said.

The Sparrow Club at Garrison where Lexie's mother, Leslie, is a teacher has raised almost $30,000 through the club's activities, penny sales, a city-wide garage sale and bake sale.

Blood is needed for Lexie and can be donated at any Cherokee County blood drive. A drive was held April 24 at the Cherokee County Electric Co-op. Other drives are planned for 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 10 at Greg James Country Motors and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 18 at Lexington Place.

Lexie's father is a nephew of Linda Nichols, another teacher at Rusk Elementary School. Mrs. Rasberry is his sister. Lexie is the great-granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Nichols, formerly of Rusk.