I met this woman through other people first because she was out of work on extended medical leave. I heard parents talk about what a great teacher she was, I heard colleagues anxiously awaiting her return, and then when she made a brief appearance in the school -- there was almost complete mayhem in the hallway when her students saw her. There were squeals of delight, there were tears "when are you coming back?" "I miss you so much" ... literally made your heart sing to see the kids with her.
She immediately introduced herself and asked what I did there, we chatted for minute, no more, and we were on our way in opposite directions.
The staff was incredibly respectful so there was not tons of chatter about her situation ... I knew she'd had a double mastectomy and was undergoing reconstructive surgery. I drew my own conclusion .. cancer.
She returned to work and we got to know each other a little better, we became friends on Facebook and started referring to each other by first names, instead of Mrs. xxxx and Mrs. Romanski. I learned more about her through her Facebook posts - she is a wife, a step-mother but most of all she is a fighter.
I learned that she didn't have cancer and all those tests, those surgeries, that pain and recovery .. it was all to AVOID cancer. Here's a little snippet from a fundraising page for an event she recently participated in that explains:
"I was diagnosed with a genetic mutation that puts me at a very high percentage to get both breast and ovarian cancers.. After finding two tumors in my breasts... Which thankfully were benign....The decision was made to have a double mastectomy. I underwent a double mastectomy with diep flap reconstruction on Oct 2,2014."
I think that it would be easy to slip into the "woe is me" mentality in her situation and, frankly, this woman popped into my life when there were days when I had some "woe is me" issues. Funny how that happens - huh?
So now to the reason she is amazing, as if all that wasn't enough, a few weeks ago she walked 39 miles .. THIRTY-NINE ... 26 one day and 13 the next .... and she had to raise at least $1800 to "qualify" for that privilege of walking all those miles.
Of course she raised well over that $1800 because if you met her you would like her immediately ... her warmth, her smile, her humor, and her transparency. I love that she has fearlessly shared her journey with others.
I'm so proud to call her my friend!
The staff was incredibly respectful so there was not tons of chatter about her situation ... I knew she'd had a double mastectomy and was undergoing reconstructive surgery. I drew my own conclusion .. cancer.
She returned to work and we got to know each other a little better, we became friends on Facebook and started referring to each other by first names, instead of Mrs. xxxx and Mrs. Romanski. I learned more about her through her Facebook posts - she is a wife, a step-mother but most of all she is a fighter.
I learned that she didn't have cancer and all those tests, those surgeries, that pain and recovery .. it was all to AVOID cancer. Here's a little snippet from a fundraising page for an event she recently participated in that explains:
"I was diagnosed with a genetic mutation that puts me at a very high percentage to get both breast and ovarian cancers.. After finding two tumors in my breasts... Which thankfully were benign....The decision was made to have a double mastectomy. I underwent a double mastectomy with diep flap reconstruction on Oct 2,2014."
I think that it would be easy to slip into the "woe is me" mentality in her situation and, frankly, this woman popped into my life when there were days when I had some "woe is me" issues. Funny how that happens - huh?
So now to the reason she is amazing, as if all that wasn't enough, a few weeks ago she walked 39 miles .. THIRTY-NINE ... 26 one day and 13 the next .... and she had to raise at least $1800 to "qualify" for that privilege of walking all those miles.
Of course she raised well over that $1800 because if you met her you would like her immediately ... her warmth, her smile, her humor, and her transparency. I love that she has fearlessly shared her journey with others.
I'm so proud to call her my friend!
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| 39 Miles |
