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Kenneth “K. Wes” Wesley Jones, 35, died from multiple infections on February 14, 2015 at Allegheny General Hospital, whose staff cheated death year after year. Son of Kenneth E. and Pamela H. Jones, he was born on December 23, 1979 with a severe diaphragmatic hernia; after heart arrests, he became first infant to be placed on E.C.M.O. (Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation) at Presbyterian-University hospitals. He helped researchers make medical history: Only the third person in the world on E.C.M.O., his survival gleaned valuable data for future, medically compromised infants. An unwitting hero—innumerable children are living and healthy due to that medical research—K. Wes lived with the scars and consequences of his tragic beginning throughout his life. From ages 2 to 21 years (1982-2001), he attended Western PA School for Blind Children when he was living at home. After graduating, K. Wes moved to Allegheny Valley School, Patricia Hillman Miller Campus in Ingram, PA. He lived at AVS for 12 years, until he developed chronic infectious diseases that mandated skilled nursing care at Forbes Center in Pittsburgh. He loved to socialize in his own unique way. “He won’t be a Rhoades Scholar,” said a doctor, but K. Wes taught all how to laugh and live in the moment. Preceded in death by his grandparents, Ellis E. and Helen E. Jones of Philadelphia, PA and his grandfather Charles A. Hasek, Jr. of Pittsburgh, PA. He is survived by his parents and a brother Trevor H. Jones, living near Kyoto, Japan with his wife Sachi and son Leon; his grandmother Dorothy Hasek of Pittsburgh, many uncles and aunts as well as cousins. At 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 9th, a “Celebration of True & Lasting Life” will be held to remember K. Wes at Monroeville United Methodist Church, 219 Center Rd., Monroeville, PA with the Rev. Ed Schoeneck presiding. In lieu of flowers, family requests memorial gifts be sent to the Western PA School for Blind Children, c/o Jillian Pritts, 201 North Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213; or Allegheny Valley Schools, c/o Amy Rocini, 1996 Ewings Mill Rd., Coraopolis, PA 15108.The Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 700 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon, is handling arrangements. (724) 929-5300 www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com

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Kenneth "K. Wes" Jones

December 23, 1979 - February 14, 2015