Seven months after her son passed away, KJ Gross’ grave still doesn’t have a headstone.
His mother, San Singleton, quit her job to be with him in his final stretch in the hospital, and now cares for her five surviving children, leaving little flexibility in the budget.
Enter the wallet and love of a 12-year-old boy. The turbulent sea of KJ’s life became calmer after sparking a friendship with another kid from school, Kaleb Klakulak. Through their shared love of video games, they became inseparable.
KJ was diagnosed with leukemia at an early age. After a bone marrow transplant, cancer would eventually come back and KJ would knock it down again. He’d go six years free of the disease before congestive heart failure landed him in the hospital again.
His care staff bent the rules, letting Kaleb join him in the hospital, visits Singleton said, gave KJ something to look forward to.
After the battle was over, Kaleb maintained his friendship with Singleton, and when he heard she was unable to afford a gravestone, he sprung into action.
“I didn’t want his mom to go to an unmarked grave,” said Klakulak.
He started doing errands for people to raise cash and then launched a Paypal fundraiser.
On Monday, Kaleb, and San, along with Kaleb’s mother Kristy Hall, went and picked out a headstone for KJ after the fundraiser garnered more than $2,500.
“I knew that they loved my son when he was alive but I really really know that they love my son because even in his passing they are still trying to help me,” said Singleton.
