A young man fighting cancer had his biggest dream come true at a Newton County middle school on Friday.
Jonah Barnett has gone through a lot in his 11 years. Doctors found a tumor on his brain when he was just 13 months old.
After a decade of fighting the terminal disease, Jonah lost the ability to speak. Recently, as his condition worsened, he lost the ability to walk.
"When he was at St. Judes recently and they were talking to the children about their aspirations, their dreams, one of the things that was a goal for him --one of the things he was looking forward to -- was just graduating fifth grade and moving on to middle school," said Dr. Lori Thomas, principal of Flint Hill Elementary School in Newton.
So Flint Hill Elementary School got to work to make Jonah's dream come true.
"It went from us having a small graduation to the whole school involved, the high school band coming and doing the graduation march, and the graduation gown and it was just amazing. And the middle school picked up and said, ‘We want to give him that experience,'" said Lynice Barnett, Jonah's mom.
On Friday, Cousins Middle School welcomed Jonah as one of their own.
"It just shows you how much kindness and how much love the kids have," said Lynice Barnett.
During an afternoon pep rally, Jonah became a sixth grade student at the big school just like he dreamed -- maybe even better than his dreams.
"I think it has touched him and his family in a way that is indescribable by words," Thomas said.
Jonah will be the special manager for the middle school's boys' basketball game on Friday night.
Georgia State Troopers are planning to increase patrols during the holiday weekend to look out for impaired drivers, seatbelt violations and other offenses.
Georgia State Troopers are planning to increase patrols during the holiday weekend to look out for impaired drivers, seatbelt violations and other offenses.
Friday, May 24 2013 2:08 PM EDT2013-05-24 18:08:48 GMT
Authorities say more than a dozen people were injured in an accident involving a hotel shuttle bus near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday morning.
Authorities say more than a dozen people were injured in an accident involving a hotel shuttle bus near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday morning.
Friday, May 24 2013 1:18 PM EDT2013-05-24 17:18:36 GMT
A judge has sentenced Michael Parson to the maximum of 35 years in jail for the attempted murder of his wife. On Thursday, Parson was convicted of shooting his wife, Adina, eight times in 2012.
A judge has sentenced Michael Parson to the maximum of 35 years in jail for the attempted murder of his wife. During an emotional sentencing hearing on Friday morning, Parson's mother told the court she still doesn't believe he is the shooter.
Friday, May 24 2013 1:17 PM EDT2013-05-24 17:17:11 GMT
Families of city workers are back at Atlanta City Hall this morning for a second day of protests. They're demanding bigger pay raises for police, firefighters and other first responders.
Families of city workers returned to Atlanta City Hall for a second day of protests on Friday. They say they know the city faces budget issues, but they're demanding bigger pay raises for police, firefighters and other first responders.
Friday, May 24 2013 12:10 PM EDT2013-05-24 16:10:59 GMT
More than a dozen people were hurt Friday morning when an Atlanta airport hotel shuttle bus crashed into a tractor-trailer not far from the airport.
More than a dozen people were hurt Friday morning when an Atlanta airport hotel shuttle bus crashed into a tractor-trailer not far from the airport. FOX 5's Chris Shaw captured cell phone video inside the smashed bus at the scene of the crash.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:52 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:52:10 GMT
The jury has found Michael Parson guilty on all eight counts in the shooting of his wife outside their Sandy Springs apartment.The woman, Adina Parson, survived after being shot eight times.
The jury has found Michael Parson guilty on all eight counts in the shooting of his wife outside their Sandy Springs apartment.The woman, Adina Parson, survived after being shot eight times.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:23 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:23:38 GMT
A Newton County teenager and his mom received the gift of mobility on Thursday, thanks to some Good Samaritans.
A Newton County teenager and his mom received the gift of mobility on Thursday, thanks to some Good Samaritans. Tyler Head was injured in a high school wrestling tournament in December, and getting back and forth to therapy is a vital to his recovery.
