Ronnie Fuller is a sixth grader at Plainview Elementary School. And unfortunately this past November he was diagnosed with Leukemia and hasn't returned to school since, but his classmates have been making every effort to show him how much they miss him.
If you ask Ronnie's classmates to describe him, they all have something similar to say.
"He is definitely the class clown," said Donnie Wright.
"He would come up with really really funny jokes," said Micah Williams.
"He is funny. He jokes around in Mr. Fitzer's class... and Mr. Fitzer gets mad," said Rayne Allvin.
So of course, everyone noticed when Ronnie didn't return to school after Thanksgiving break. That's because he was diagnosed with cancer and rushed to the Children's Memorial Hospital in Omaha.
When the school heard the news, it was heartbreaking.
"Tears, speechless... there was a lot of emotion running through the room. We just saw him last week... how could something so bad happen to him so fast," said Ronnie's teacher, Jen Hodson.
Since November, Ronnie's undergone two chemotherapy treatments, and even though Ronnie's classmates can't be with him at the hospital, his teacher has found another way for his friends to be by his side during his treatment. About once a week ronnie gets to skype with his classmates from the hospital.
"He laughs a lot... we had to line dance for him... and he just kept laughing and laughing," said Allvin.
"I remember the first time we skyped with him, his mom said that was the first time he smiled since he got in to the hospital," said Williams.
And it's not just skyping, the entire school has made bracelets for Ronnie, along with "team ronnie" tee shirts to try and help raise money for him and his family.
"Orange is the color for Leukemia, and his favorite team... That's Texas," said Williams.
In the past two months, the school has raised more than $2,000 for Ronnie, and his family couldn't be more grateful.
"Oh my gosh... its humbling. Uhhh, it's been great, just great," said Ronnie's mom, Juanita.
Ronnie did get to make a rare appearance in his classroom on friday, and he had a message for all his friends.
"I miss them... and I can't wait to get back to school...not the work though."
Ronnie has just two more chemotherapy treatments left, and his doctors say he is well on his way to being cancer-free.
Plainview Elementary will be hosting fundraisers for Ronnie and his family, on February 7th at the elementary school. They have a soup supper and a black-out day at the basketball game, with all the proceeds going to the family. It starts at 5 p.m.
