Out of school since October, IPS student returns with new kidney

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Central Indiana students headed back to class Monday after the holiday break. One Indianapolis Public Schools student went back on Tuesday and got a warm welcome from his classmates and teachers.

9-year-old Anthony Doss has been out of school since October. He is in third grade at James A. Garfield school in Indianapolis. He was born with his kidneys not working and spent his life in and out of the hospital and on and off of dialysis.

In October, the day before his 9th birthday, his mother got the call that Anthony had a match for a kidney.

“I just cried and cried and the lady was like, I just need you to get it together for one second,” said Anthony’s mother Johna Hammontree.

Her son has spent the last few months at home recovering and is now able to go back to school.

“I’m happy for him because this is all he wanted his whole life. He’s never known what normal is and this is his new normal,” she added.

“I’m just really excited we get to be a part of this journey. At James A. Garfield, we are a family and anytime we can support our family through anything we want to do that,” said Adrienne Kuchik who is the Interim Principal at the school.