“Abby is Such a Bright Spirit”; Northeast Dubois Elementary Mourns Second Grader

DUBOIS COUNTY, Ind. (WEHT) — The playground at Northeast Dubois Elementary School is scattered with students and teachers wearing bright colors. Inside the school building, grief counselors spent the morning helping them understand why their friend couldn’t join them.

School Principal Courtney Hopf says second grade student Abigail Raisor is on life support. after an unknown birth defect caused a brain bleed over the weekend.

Doctors determined Abby’s condition is non-survivable, and her family has decided to donate her organs and tissues to help others.

“It’s just an overwhelming feeling of sad and unsure and scared. It’s so difficult,” says Hopf.

Raisor will remain on a ventilator until donor matches can be found, and her contribution could help up to 75 lives. At school, nearly 300 others have already felt the weight of her life.

Principal Hopf pulled each grade level one by one to provide clarity and help them deal with any big feelings that followed. “We wanted to allow students the opportunity to either talk in small groups, have time to color pictures and make cards for Abby and her family. We used sensory tools like play-doh and other things, so students could just have time alone or time talking to other students to cope,” says Hopf.

Classmates say Abby is always hug-ready with a big smile and warm laugh.

Abby’s teacher Mrs. Hustedde is remembering her student as kind, helpful and never afraid to be herself.

“I guess the other kids were saying ‘You’re coloring that wrong. You’re coloring it wrong.’ Abby raises her hand and she says, ‘Mrs. Hustede does my earth have to be blue and green?’ I said, ‘Abigail, your earth can be whatever color you want it to be… It’s your earth. You make it how you want it to be.’ She looked up and she said, good, with the biggest smile on her face,” says Hustedde.

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