Staff and students at Yardville Elementary welcome Ava, Andy and Sydney Waller (center) back just more than six months after the Wallers started the First Day of School Foundation in honor of Eli Waller, a 4-year-old preschool student at YES who died in September from Enterovirus D68. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)
Students at Yardville Elementary School listen to Andy Waller during an assembly April 17, 2015. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)
Yardville Elementary School students wave their hands in thanks during an assembly at the school April 17, 2015. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)
Andy Waller stood alone at the center of the Yardville Elementary School auditorium.
Moments ago, this space seemed less vacant, brimming with the energy of 280 elementary school students unleashed from their classrooms on a Friday morning.
Had this been last September, Waller’s 4-year-old son Eli would have been one of those students. But, alas, there was a reason Andy Waller was here April 17—the reason Eli wasn’t.
Seven months ago, the world turned upside down for the Waller family and all of Yardville Elementary School. Overnight Sept. 24, 2014, Eli died suddenly and without symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control later determined Eli had died from Enterovirus D68, the first American to succumb to the respiratory ailment.
Plenty came from Eli’s passing—hysterics in the media, concern from the parents of Hamilton Township—but only one thing has lasted. A relationship has blossomed between the school community and the Waller family—Andy, his wife Suzie and their daughters Ava and Sydney. The girls and Eli are triplets.
The Wallers weren’t well-known at Yardville before last autumn. Ava and Sydney had just started in the morning session of Yardville’s inclusive preschool class in September, there to accompany Eli, who was in his second year at the school. The Wallers don’t live in the Yardville Elementary district, but they sent their children there because Yardville’s preschool program was equipped for students who had speech and developmental delays, like Eli. And when Eli died, Andy and Suzie pulled their daughters from Yardville Elementary. It would’ve been too hard for any of them to go back.
Yardville School principal Elena Manning admitted in October she didn’t know the family all that well before Eli’s passing. She knew Suzie’s face. She met Andy Waller for the first time at Eli’s funeral.
But everyone at Yardville Elementary knew Eli, and the school community has been paramount in keeping his memory alive. A Waller Wall of Fame has been constructed outside the main office, and the school has raised more than $8,000 since October. Pajama Days, Wear Blue and Gold Days, Teacher Dress-Down Days—$8,000 a few bucks at a time.
It all goes to the First Day of School Foundation, the charity started by the Wallers in Eli’s honor. The foundation provides financial assistance for school-related and therapeutic expenses for special education students and families.
“It’s become a part of our district, school and home conversations, and our students have learned so much about the gift of giving,” Manning said. “The Wallers are an amazing family, and I truly feel blessed to have them in our lives.”
And so it was that Andy Waller stood in front of the Yardville student body six months after he first stood in front of the media to introduce the First Day of School Foundation. He was there to help announce the school would hold a special “Aware Because We Care” Day June 3. Students at the school will learn about disabilities, and participate in simulations that will give them a taste of what it’s like to be disabled. Then, that afternoon, the entire school will participate in a walk-a-thon, with all proceeds going to the First Day of School Foundation. Donations are due by May 22.
“If we can raise a lot of money, they can use that to help kids with disabilities,” Yardville Elementary guidance counselor Jen Braverman told students during the April 17 assembly.
Waller, for his part, tried to keep the attention off himself. He spoke only for a few minutes, explaining to students who he was and thanking them for their support. He told students about Eli’s struggles.
“He was born, and certain things were harder for him,” Waller said. “That’s pretty much what having a disability is all about.”
He ended his speech with, “I think that’s all I have to say,” then stepped aside. Ava rushed toward him. Waller scooped her up, and rested her on his shoulder. Sydney stayed planted on the knee of her former teacher, Ceil Plunkett.
The Yardville students raised their hands and wiggled their fingers. Waller laughed. Manning stepped in to explain.
“They’re giving you their stars,” she said.
Then, the children filed back into their classrooms, leaving Waller alone with a few stragglers who wanted to wish him well.
He told them about the foundation, how it held a successful gala in February and made donations to special education programs at Hamilton Township and Freehold schools. He spoke about the foundation’s plans, an end-of-summer golf outing, maybe another photo event like October’s Smiles for Eli that raised more than $7,000 in a day.
And he talked about his girls, who are growing so fast he can’t believe it. They’ve had competing growth spurts over the last half year, a neck-and-neck race for who’s taller. They’ll start Kindergarten in September. Where, Waller doesn’t know. But he knows his girls can’t wait.
“Ava doesn’t want to leave,” he said, “But it’s OK. There are worse things than your daughter not wanting to leave school.”
Once those who stayed behind said their hellos, they too left the auditorium, one by one, until it was just Waller there.
Waller looked around, up at the ceiling and down at the floor. He has been back to the school several times since Eli died, but it still dredges up old memories.
“It’s neat being back,” Waller said, “I mean, it’s a little tough.”
He paused, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He found strength from his surroundings.
“But you walk into the room, and it’s like a family waiting for you. Everyone here supports you.”
For more information about Yardville School’s effort, call (609) 631-4170. For more information about the First Day of School Foundation, go online to firstdayofschoolfoundation.org.
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