Student with Leukemia Unites Amundsen Community

When Yeferson Sarmiento enrolled at Amundsen High School, his doctors said he wouldn’t make it through his freshman year. 

Four years later, the 17-year-old with leukemia was still learning. 

But on March 31, Sarmiento lost his battle with leukemia, just three months before he would have graduated.

The senior had leukemia for more than half his life, Amundsen safety director Alex Perez said. Perez got to know then student while taking him in the elevators when he couldn’t walk up and down the stairs of the school.

“He had a great spirit, lots of friends,” he said. “He would be dying and he’d fight through it and pull it together.”

Sarmiento wanted to go to earn his diploma, he said in one class assignment. He wanted to dress up and go to prom with his friends.

“I like to go to school, but I just can’t. My sickness stops me,” he wrote.

His senior year, he was too ill to attend class, but kept up with his studies thanks to a teacher who came to his house for lessons.

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His father, Giovanni Sarmiento, came to Amundsen Monday and told teachers his son had died. Immediately, Perez asked how the school could help.

In five days, Amundsen students raised $2,500, nearly the entire cost of the funeral services. Perez said the girls softball team and student council groups each gave $500. Individual teachers and students gave $5, $10 and even $50 for Sarmiento’s family.

"Students, you never cease to amaze me with your dignity and passion and love for other people,” Principal Anna Pavichevich told students Friday afternoon. “You did Yeferson's memory proud."

The students couldn’t attend Sarmiento’s funeral services since they were held during school hours, but Perez and his father arranged the funeral procession to pass by the school.

Friday afternoon, Amundsen was draped in orange ribbon, the color for leukemia awareness. Juniors and seniors gathered in front of the school to pay their last respects to their classmate.

Giovanni Sarmiento waved to students as the procession passed by, thanking them, Perez said.

Sarmiento loved hearing the band, so Perez asked music director James Zebrowski if the band would play at the memorial.

“It was the most difficult performance I’ve ever had to conduct in my life,” Zebrowski said. “I give those kids all the credit in the world.”

Amundsen will be giving Sarmiento an honorary diploma, completing the senior’s dream after his death. 

“I want people—dad—mom—friends and you—to be proud of me,” Sarmiento wrote.