Jamarcus Tre’ Macartney
Community Hero 2005
“Caring, conscientious, considerate, respectful and fun.” These are just a few words that Tre’s elementary school principal uses to describe this incredible 10-year-old boy whose bright attitude, warmth and wonderful sense of humor touch all the students and teachers around him—and serve to make their school a better place.
He loves cheesy enchiladas, Legos, reading, writing, and playing his Gameboy. He can rap with the best of them and shines in math and history.
From the outside, you’d never suspect that Tre’ has been battling Hemophilia since birth. For him that means repeated and frequent bleeding episodes, acute pain from the damage his bleeds cause, the infections he fights, daily needle pricks—and a lot of missed school.
And yet Tre’ never loses sight of the good in every situation or puts himself first, says his mother, Sandy. “He’s always laughing and joking, always looking out for others—even when he is very sick.” Sandy adds that Tre’ has a huge soft spot for his doctor and nurses and, like them, really cares about helping those in need.
Ask Tre’ what he would tell another boy or girl in the same situation and you’re likely to hear, “Don’t stop smiling or having fun!”
