Here's to Teachers!

A respectful nod of gratitude goes out to all of our fine educators on National Teacher Day.

In an earlier POST I mentioned one of Erin's favorite teachers during her senior year of high school, but on this day of national recognition I'd like to send a special thank you to all who supported, encouraged and accommodated her personal needs during those school years rife with challenge.

When we received the initial cancer diagnosis in December of 2006, Erin was just finishing the first semester of her sophomore year at LT. ONE of the many issues of concern was how she would coordinate her required school work with the prescribed treatment protocol, which included in-patient chemotherapy and hip/femur replacement surgery which necessitated the use of crutches for three months afterward. Due to these medical obstacles, she was taught at home for the remainder of her sophomore year, and then again for much of the second semester of her junior year when the cancer spread to her lung, resulting in a second major surgery and the beginning of another protocol of chemo.

Lyons Township has a fine reputation and we are fortunate to reside within this district that is well-supported by the surrounding community. We experienced its fine attributes with Chris, Sarah and Matt, and when presented with Erin's unique circumstances, the faculty quickly rose to the occasion with tremendous support, as they went above and beyond the usual expectations of teachers' responsibilities.
And so thank you to ALL who taught Erin throughout the 2 1/2 years of high school after her diagnosis, enabling her to finish each year on time and graduate with her peers. Just a FEW examples of teachers who selflessly gave their time are those who:

~ gave up ESPN on Sunday mornings to teach geometry at our kitchen table.
~ brought chemistry experiments to the house each week so she could experience hands-on lab work.
~ helped her hobble on crutches outside to sit in our backyard and discuss "The Lord of the Flies"and "Warriors Don't Cry" among others that year.
~ not only taught algebra at the house junior year, but prepared her to take the ACT senior year after she was unable to take the test due to the relapse during her junior year.
~ showed "awesomely gross" trauma slides and allowed her to share the MRI of her leg with the implanted rod as part of class discussion on bone and muscle tissue.
And thanks to her counselor who helped coordinate communications with the teachers, assisted in assuring Erin's class requirements for timely graduation were met while accommodating her medical concerns, helped prepare college admission paperwork and continued to support me with notes of encouragement, reminding me to walk forward with a confident cadence of "Right Foot, Left Foot, Right Foot".

All of Erin's teachers during her senior year, when she could FINALLY attend school full-time (because all chemo was out-patient or administered at home) were aware of her circumstances, and they treated her with dignity and respect, allowing her to hand in the occasional late assignment if things became a little overwhelming. And things did indeed prove challenging during that period; as we gutted out periodic scans, as new areas of disease appeared and resulted in the alteration of protocols, during the decision to change hospitals for treatment, etc. She was only absent nine days of that whole year, never because she didn't feel well enough to attend although at times she was pretty tired due to low blood counts, but only because her scans couldn't be scheduled for an after-school time.
As I look back now, I have no idea how she did it all. I honestly don't! I think she just craved normalcy, continuity and involvement with her peers.

Erin chose to move forward with her intended plan to attend Elmhurst College last August, in spite of the cancer showing pronounced activity just two weeks before she was to begin school. With the full support and gracious understanding of Elmhurst's fine Dean of Students, the counselors and professors, Erin moved into the dorm and attended the fabulous 5-day orientation that included advising sessions, community service projects, a football game, dances, and team-building activities. This photo of her First Year Seminar class was taken during that orientation, and pictures some of the friends she was meeting as she began to experience college life.


She lived in the dorm for the first couple of weeks and then made the decision to move back home and commute to class, attending school until the end of October when it finally became too difficult for her to do so any longer.

To ALL OF THE WONDERFUL TEACHERS who had such a profound impact on Erin's life - Dave and I are forever grateful. Heartfelt letters came from many, from LT and Elmhurst, before and after Erin died and are kept in a treasured box. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to put thoughts about Erin to paper so we have those memories in your written words.

And now, a special nod to the teacher in our family!

OK, raise your hands. How many of you can tell from this picture that Chris would become a History and Government Teacher when he grew up? Beuller?

Anyone? Anyone?

How many of us are upset about the Illinois State Board of Education budget issues?

Anyone? Anyone?

A few corny jokes, dedicated to our son the History Teacher ~

Why aren't you doing well in history?
Because the teacher keeps asking about things that happened before I was born!

Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?
At the bottom.

Who succeeded the first President of the United States?
The second one.

What did General Patton do on Thanksgiving?
He gave tanks.

OK OK ~ I'm finished! It will get better Chris...
"Have Fun!"