Wednesday, September 12, 2018

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Augusta Christian school is celebrating "Zay Ray day," after 9-year-old student Zayden Wright passed away in the hospital.

The school donated a bench in honor of Zayden.

Friday, August 31, 2018

(News 12 at 6 o'clock / NBC 26 at 7)

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Christian student body is grieving the loss of 9-year-old Zayden Wright.

Head of Schools Les Walden and Elementary School Principal Liz Lowery know exactly what's missing as they walk through Augusta Christian’s campus Friday afternoon.

Every student is in place except for one. Zayden’s desk sits empty.

"He would usually be coming down the hallway walking to his classroom and I would always say ‘good morning Zayden how are you?’ He would stop and he would say ‘good morning Mrs. Lowrey,’ and then he would say ‘how are you today?’"

Lowery says Zayden is the kind of kid who knows how to make you feel special. Since the start of the school year, he's just been trying to feel better.

"Zayden had been in the hospital for the last few weeks,” Walden told News 12 Friday. “We knew he had gone down a little bit health-wise."

Zayden missed the start of third grade at ACS, and he celebrated his ninth birthday in the hospital. He had two heart surgeries during that time.

"He had always battled back and so we expected him to battle back this time."

But then Zayden's mom sent Mrs. Lowery a text.

"She said in her text to me that heaven had a new gatekeeper."

That text was bittersweet – bitter because the last time she saw Zayden was truly the last time, and sweet be

"I thought to myself that is exactly where he should be posted in Heaven, greeting all those that come in because he just had a special way of making you feel special."

A greeting she looks forward to getting one day again.

Zayden has touched so many people in this community, including the Make-A-Wish organization, the Augusta chapter of the American Heart Association, CHOG, and ACS.

ACS is working on a tribute for Zayden, and they are also dreaming up a “Zayden buddy bench” where kids who need a buddy can sit and find a new friend.