Nine Year-Old Vernon Student Visits Olympics

Vernon- Friday August 5, 2016, was a big day for the world, and an even bigger day for nine year old Darius Ziabakhsh, a student at Vernon's Rolling Hills Primary School. As most folks watched the 2016 opening ceremony of the Olympics unfold on television, Ziabakhsh was there, in person at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium, witnessing history. Selected by the Ronald McDonald House, along with 99 other children, Ziabakhsh has battled severe medical issues for most of his young life. The avid soccer fan and his family have been active with The Ronald McDonald House Charities. A reception, complete with french fries was held on a rainy Monday at the McDonald's in Franklin for Ziabakhsh and his family and friends.

Initially, Darius' mother, Traci though it was a joke when she was informed the family was chosen to attend the 2016 Summer Olympics. At the reception, amongst a flurry of reporters and camera men, Traci spoke with tears in her eyes and a cracked voice.

"We never expected this," she said. "It is so overwhelming and we can not thank the Ronald McDonald House enough. They have been there for us since the day Darius was born, and this is such a privilege for us." "We are honored to represent the Ronald McDonald house."

With his dark eyes wide, and a crop of wavy brown hair a bit mussed from a lot of hugging, the guest of honored dined on fries, smiled brightly for photographs, and was presented with a $100 gift card for McDonald's. There was much talk of "that kid with the best smile," and when a large cake was brought out, young Ziabakhsh honored everybody with his high wattage grin.