Ansonia Rallies For Little Girl With Brain Tumor

A banner outside Jeilany's Forest Avenue home in Ansonia.

ANSONIA — An outpouring of love, support, and prayers on Thursday for a Mead School student battling an inoperable brain tumor proved just how strong Ansonia is.

Nearly 200 cars, police cruisers and fire trucks — one even carrying Santa Claus himself — drove from Mead School to a home on Forest Avenue during Joy for Jeilany.”

I’m amazed by this,” said Edwin Vega. My daughter just moved the whole city.”

Vega’s daughter is Jeilany Vega Rivera, a first-grade student at Mead. She is very ill. She was not able to see today’s outpouring of community support in front of her Forest Avenue because she is in the hospital. Click here to make a donation to support Jeilany and her family.

But Vega videotaped the entire procession and planned to show it to Jeilany once the parade and large crowd that gathered outside the family’s home dissipated.

Mead School Guidance Counselor James Chester organized the event. He said Jeilany’s older sister, Gianne, 11, a fifth grader at Mead, has been coming to his office talking about wanting to do something to make her little sister smile.

Chester and Gianne came up with the Joy for Jeilany” car parade, which turned out to be so much more than Chester ever could’ve imagined.

As cars paraded by the family’s home, they were greeted by the sounds of the Ansonia High School band and cheerleaders, playing tunes and performing cheers to raise the family’s spirits.

Fire trucks from the city’s fire companies blasted their horns, and cars and motorcycles, adorned with We Miss You Jeilany” signs and balloons honked their horns to show their love.

Santa Claus and Mayor David Cassetti came bearing gifts, as well, and Mead School’s mascot CoCo the Koala, who rolled up to the house in a convertible, gave out much-needed hugs to all.

Teachers, friends and others got out of their cars, raced up to the family’s porch, and dropped off gifts and bunches of balloons. The family sat on the front porch of the home, decked out with mermaid and unicorn balloons, with colorful streamers in Jeilany’s favorite color, pink, and a bright sign that read Mermaid Kisses and Unicorn Wishes.”

Our goal was to put a smile on Jeilany’s face and let the family know the school and the entire community love them very much,” Chester said.

Mead School Principal Amy Cosciello was touched by the show of support.

This is a testament to Ansonia. Everybody comes together to support each other when they need it, especially when it comes to kids,” she said.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph DiBacco was also part of the car caravan.

We’re a small city with a big heart,” DiBacco said. One thing about the Ansonia community, and especially our teacher community, when there’s somebody in need, we rally like nobody else.”

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