1. Sophomore Ashanti Dalton Passes Away

Sophomore Ashanti Dalton passed away on Jan. 22, 2019. Her birthday was Oct. 15, 2002. She was 16 years old. She would have graduated with the class of 2021.

Ashanti passed away due to complications from Cystic Fibrosis, an incurable hereditary disorder that affected the endocrine glands. She was the only child of Karen Dalton. When asked about her daughter, Karen described Ashanti as a very loving kid, who loved everybody.

While she attended FHN, she kept her grades up. She was home bound so teachers would go to her house or the hospital she stayed at. They would help her out with school as well. She grew close with the nurses and principals. According to her counselor Stephanie Johnson, she handled things gracefully and in a positive manner. Johnson can’t emphasize enough how well she continued to persevere and push through not knowing what the next day would hold.

Ashanti loved to cook, play with her cousins and buy shoes. She also loved the color pink. While in the hospital, she would make crafts to pass the time.

Ashanti spent a lot of time at Saint Louis Children’s Hospital, even throwing out the first pitch at an August Cardinals game, representing the lung transplant team.