Walled Lake family starts foundation named for young son who died from flu

WALLED LAKE, Mich. (WJBK) - A Walled Lake family and an entire elementary school is in mourning after the death of a kindergarten student.

The little boy passed away this week from complications caused by the flu.

Ashton Arabo and his twin brother, Adam, were rock stars at their Walled Lake elementary school. Their mom, Melody being teacher of the year in Michigan, didn't hurt.

But at the beginning of the year, tragedy struck. Their sister came home on Jan. 6 with the flu and both boys caught it.

When the twins came home school with flu symptoms, Melody took the boys to the Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield. Ashton, whose symptoms progressed, was transferred to Children’s Hospital in Detroit

"It just progressed," said Ashton's father Elias Arabo. "Worsening and worsening and he just was never able to come out of there."

Ashton needed a miracle and hung on for as long as he could - days after doctors said it was over.

"It was complications from the flu," Melody said.

In the ultimate grief for a parent came compassion they didn't realize would be possible.

"We were asking for prayers and those came from all around the state," Melody said. "And all around the country, and all around the world. And then people were sending us such uplifting messages."

In that spirit, Ashton's family is hoping to make other miracles happen by creating a foundation.  

"We started Ashton's Miracle Foundation," Melody said. "It spread faster than we ever imagined."

In just one day, the foundation raised $20,000 on GoFundMe. The foundation is in the planning stages but the family said that ensure each dollar will benefit someone else in need.