District closed for Independence Day
School Resource Officer Nicole Reddix escorts Hackett student Maliha Jackson to a limousine at the end of an event in her honor.
On Thursday, the eve of her 15th birthday, Hackett Middle School eighth-grader Maliha Jackson was showered with surprises by her school and her city.
Maliha has end-stage kidney disease and spends about 10 hours each night on dialysis. She was disappointed that COVID-19 prevented the city from holding its annual tree-lighting ceremony that she loved attending each year, so her Hackett family decided they wanted to help. The city, the Albany Police Athletic League and others joined in.
The result? Maliha and her mother Aqilah were treated to a limousine ride through Washington Park to see the light display, courtesy of PAL. From the park, she was whisked off to Hackett.with a police escort from School Resource Officers Nicole Reddix and Chris English.
When she arrived at Hackett, she was greeted by a crowd of friends, teachers, principals, PTA parents and community members waving glow sticks in the darkness. They sang “Happy Birthday” to her and lit a Christmas tree in her honor.
Maliha learned that the mayor had proclaimed December 10, 2020 as “Maliha Jackson Day.” She also found out that the tree and presents were hers, and would be delivered to her home later that evening.
She opened one gift at Hackett – a pair of roller skates with light-up wheels. She thanked her friends and well-wishers profusely. And before a line of police officers and firefighters, she was escorted back to the limousine by Officer Reddix, and headed home.
According to her mom, Maliha hopes to get on a kidney transplant list in February.
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