Chronically Ill 8-Year-Old Writes Book For Sick Kids, Has No Idea Trump Is On His Way
Meet Ashton Zari, an 8-year-old West Virginia boy who has already accomplished some impressive feats in his young life.
Ashton has bravely persevered through chronic kidney disease and painful surgeries, using his pain as a catalyst to help others.
Hoping to encourage other medically fragile kids, Ashton has written and published his first book, “How I Became A Super Hero.”
And, now, Ashton can check off one of his biggest feats yet: placing his book into the hands of President Donald Trump.
Ashton is a patient at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He caught wind that the president and first lady would be visiting the hospital, and told his mom how much he would like to meet the president.
Ashton’s mother, Amanda Zari, didn’t want to get her son’s hopes up too high — but figured she could at least try to make it happen for her little boy.
“As a momma, I try to help Ashton set realistic goals, and it was hard not to discourage him,” Zari told 59 News.
Zari credits her son’s “rock star” nurse for helping to make the hopeful meeting into a reality.
On Aug. 24, the nurse spoke with key people on her floor, and the group of nursing staff plus presidential staff were ultimately able to orchestrate the meeting between Ashton, Trump, and First Lady Melania Trump.
It was a dream come true for a courageous little boy — placing his children’s book into the hands of the president himself.
Zari was overwhelmed with the compassion, kindness, and authenticity the Trumps showed to her son.
“This was an experience I am struggling with finding adequate words to sum up,” Zari said. “President Trump was kind and empathetic.”
“He spent time engaging with Ashton, asking him about his book, and even calling him a young entrepreneur,” she said. “He was genuinely interested in Ashton’s health and asked many questions about Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio.”
Zari said the meeting was something she had never imagined would have happened for Ashton, but the visit left her feeling humbled and grateful.
“The First Lady has the kindest voice and smile possibly of anyone I ever met,” Zari continued. “She spent time looking through Ashton’s book and commenting on the various illustrations, the workmanship, and she told him what a great job he did.”
The First Lady even helped cast a vision for Ashton’s near future by asking him when he planned on writing his next book.
Since the visit, Ashton has remained hospitalized while he recovers from reconstructive surgery on his bladder and bowel, but hopes he is discharged later this week.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
