Florida 9-Year-Old Killed By Bus Was A Cancer Survivor: 'Truly Unbearable'

An Orlando community is mourning the loss of a beloved 9-year-old who was killed while trying to retrieve a football from under a school bus.

Elyas Amyr Marshall-Rodriguez was a cancer survivor who had big dreams of being a professional athlete one day.

The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs and in just one day has already raised more than $21,000 of the $30,000 goal.

A family member, Trenae Gayle, told WESH that her cousin "had already been through a lot in his life."

"He was in remission," Gayle said. "He just got his port taken out last year. Actually, he was diagnosed with leukemia, cancer, when he was two years old. He went through the Make-A-Wish Foundation because of how severe it was. So he had already been through a lot in his life.”

Marshall-Rodriguez's mom has shared some moving tributes to her son on her TikTok page. In one touching video from early 2023 that's pinned to the top of her page, she shared an emotional look at his cancer journey captioned, "Diagnosed with Leukemia at age 3 and won the battle currently in remission for over a year."

Tons of support poured into the comment section for the family with many sending their condolences and love.

In another recently shared video captioned, "Sleep in Peace My Baby Boy … I love you so much and miss you much …. This song is so perfect for how I feel…. You are in my memories now baby boy the only place I can see you for now," Marshall-Rodriguez's mom shared a memorial that's been set up in the location of his death.

In the comment section, she added, "I needed to see the place he took his final breath. I needed to go when ppl weren’t watching. I needed to be alone with my son and talk out loud to the universe. I needed to get every thought out."

Many people took to the comments to support the grieving mom with kind words and prayers.

"I'm heartbroken and saying I'm sorry just doesn't seem to be enough 💔," one person wrote. Another added, "There are no words I can offer to take this pain away but I will be Praying for healing for you and your family 🙏♥️💔."

A GoFundMe page was set up by Gayle to help with funeral costs.

"With deepest regret and sadness I create this Go Fund Me Page and petition your help. My name is Trenae Gayle and I created this GoFund Me for my Aunt, Ultra Marshall whose 9-year-old son, Elyas Amyr Marshall-Rodriguez who was senselessly and tragically killed when hit by a school bus in Orlando, FL," she wrote on the page description.

"Elyas, was a resilient and energy-filled boy with a joy of life. He overcame Lymphoma (Leukemia) cancer which he was diagnosed at the young age of two years old. Despite this grueling journey he always had a smile on his face and had been in remission. He truly was an outgoing, caring and loving child. He loved football and had dreams of playing in the NFL. He was loved throughout his community in Waterford East by his neighbors and friends. His loss is truly unbearable and undeserving."

The description goes on to explain that Gayle's aunt has two other children, one who has autism and is legally blind. She also said that donations received will be used to cover the "home going services" and for her aunt, who's a single mother, "to be able to manage living expenses, counseling and the well being of her family."

Nearly 500 people have donated so far, and the total currently raised is just over $21,000 of the $300,000 goal.