Community raises money for west side girl spending Christmas in the ICU

The community is making a difference and sending holiday cheer to a west side fourth-grader spending Christmas in the ICU.Kennedy Ross is a quadriplegic who continues to defy all odds.”All the bad things have mostly happened in the past, so I just try to put that all behind me,” Ross told WLWT from her hospital bed. It’s an outlook that’s beyond her years, but one she has maintained for as long as she can remember.At just 3 years old, little Kennedy was involved in a car accident, leaving her paralyzed from the neck down.”She really never ever made an excuse for her disability at all,” Ross’ mom, Kiara Whitmire said. Now in fourth grade at Roselawn Condon Elementary School, the 10-year-old is at the top of her class, making straight A’s every single year.Recently, things took a turn for the worse though when Kennedy contracted pneumonia and a bad cold.”They had to revive Kennedy and she just keeps trying, she’s been in ICU for about a month,” Whitmire said.Teachers and classmates continue to send her videos to brighten her day, and Kennedy’s mom is looking to make this Christmas season the brightest of them all.”I know every parent wishes they can give their child the world and that’s what I’m trying to do, I know I probably cant give her that but I want to try to get close to it,” Whitmire said. The family is raising money to give her something she’s always dreamed of.Ross told us what that was.”I really want to go to Disney World,” Ross said.They also want to inspire others this holiday season, if this little girl can smile through so much, maybe we can try doing the same, when times get tough.”She said mommy, I’m OK, and to hear her say that, I was crying and it made me better,” Whitmire said.

— to www.wlwt.com