Diner workers buy gifts for boy awaiting kidney transplant

VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) - Employees at Schoop's Hamburgers served up more than burgers and fries Monday to one of their favorite customers who is about to receive a kidney transplant.

Jaxson Elder, 5, was born with renal failure and has been on dialysis for his entire life. When the employees at Schoop's Valparaiso location, 2816 Calumet Ave., where the Elder family regularly dines, found out that Jaxson was going to receive a new kidney at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, they decided that they wanted to help.

"We just wanted to do something nice to him," said Theresa Gulley, manager of the Valparaiso Schoop's.

The group bought gifts from a toy car to a Blues Brothers poster for Jaxson to take with him to Philadelphia to remember his hometown.

"He has the cutest personality ever," said Schoop's employee Kelsey Hensrud.

Jaxson's parents, Jenna and Jasen Elder, were grateful for the kindness the employees showed them.

"We are blessed by their selfless ways," Jenna Elder said.

And Jaxson was excited to see the stack of gifts sitting on the table in his booth.

"It's like a birthday," said Jaxson jumping up and down looking at the wrapped boxes.

Jaxson eagerly opened the two boxes and two bags in front of the Schoop's staff who watched his delight at the gifts.

Jaxson thanked each of the employees with a hug.

The date for Jaxson's surgery is not set yet, because the family is waiting for the donor to undergo a few more tests.

"It's one of the greatest human sacrifices," Jasen Elder said about the kidney donation.

Both parents said they have lots of support from everyone in their family and at Schoop's.

"We always feel so loved when we come in here," Jenna Elder said. "It's overwhelming, really."

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Source: The (Munster) Times, http://bit.ly/1ZNK4hG

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Information from: The Times, http://www.thetimesonline.com