Ten years ago today Thursday, November 4, 2004, right around 10:00 am I stood at the front of my classroom leading my second graders in the days math lesson. My phone rang and I excused myself for a moment to grab it; asking my students to proceed in their math booklets. My heart sank when I heard the voice on the other end of the phone...Dr. Pineda. Just days before I had four biopsies done. It turned out that the three areas of suspicion were nothing to be concerned about. Thank goodness! Then my doctor proceeded to tell me that the sample taken that neither of us had concern about (a mole on the back of my neck that was present since birth); and the sample she had said she wasnt going to send to pathology (her gut told her she should anyway) was positive for Melanoma. She hated to deliver this news to me while in my classroom, but wanted me to know its very aggressive and that I would need a substitute for Monday, November 8 because she already had Mohs surgery scheduled in Madison. I hung up. I needed to step outside the classroom for a moment. Breathe. My dad had just been diagnosed with cancer in January. Three co-workers had been diagnosed in the spring; two of them had passed away. The husbands of two other co-workers had also been diagnosed with cancer that year as well. This all seemed so surreal. Then, reality set in. I walked about five steps from my doorway and stood gazing into Shirley Hansons first grade classroom where my daughter Keely sat... so little. So attentive. I walked back to my classroom and asked that my students give me one moment for me to use the restroom. I walked across the hallway and looked in Mrs. Johnson -Roidts third grade room where my eldest daughter, Ciara sat. My two precious children. Gods greatest blessings to me. So innocent. So trusting. So eager to learn. How? How could I protect them now? I swallowed hard. Fought back tears and went back to class. I didnt tell a soul. I still had Friday to teach and a fun - filled weekend planned with my friends. I still remember telling my friends the news on Friday after school in the elementary parking lot before we headed up north for the weekend. I wanted it out and I wanted to enjoy a great time with friends. We did just that. I told my daughters on Sunday that Id be at the doctor on Monday but all would be okay. My plan was to keep everything hushed. Until the day I left a staff meeting and the bandage from my neck fell, revealing sixteen staples and a zippered neck. (Gasp!) :) What do ya do?! I told the truth and I leaned on the best support system I had for 19 wonderful years in education. At the time, ten years was the milestone my doctor said I was to reach. Ive since had countless biopsies and Im so glad to report that none have come back malignant. I think of all that has transpired in my life within these ten years and Im so grateful. Dont ever take a moment for granted. Dont ever put off a health concern. Question it. The life you save might be your own; and Im betting there are a lot of people who want you around. Enjoy this day. L chai im!
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 16:15:39 +0000
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