It Was More Than The Luck of the Irish…

I think today was one of those days which was surreal. I have had a LONG week by the ways things have been going, I had two 5:45 am workouts with Drew, and meetings every night after school making my commitment to myself for healthy living through exercise very difficult. In addition to this, two bowls of peanut m & m's managed to find their way into my belly. The good news is that I am bound by grace and not by weight. I have been learning lately that I am no longer a number which I am managed by for health insurance reasons, I am able to monitor myself better and accept myself more due to this. This does not mean that I am the best person at making great decisions, I have a system…and 8 of the 10 times I use it, I have immense success. Handfuls of chocolate are not part of the system and I really do need to avoid fat free whipped cream.

With this week being as hectic as it has been for grades, spring break my mid-term practicum due and other items, I was surprised by many sweet friends this week. Brenda, one of the beautiful blondes at my building who makes the office run so smooth took the time on Thursday morning to tie a helium balloon to my chair in the classroom because a few weeks ago I had exclaimed over a balloon bouquet in the office that getting a helium balloon bouquet would be such a fun surprise! (The balloons in the office were for kindergarten round-up.) Imagine my surprise when a "You Are Special" balloon was beckoned into my presence. I also was surprised by a sweet basket of goodies tonight from one of my students after leaving school tonight to meet with Fox 4 again. A student whom I have been really working with this past year brought me a handmade bright pink basket full of dark chocolate, Starbucks gift card and jolly ranchers. Getting such a shock at 6:00 pm when I returned to the building to grab my teacher bag was very meaningful, but the card tucked inside of it was worth more to me than any item they placed inside…"Erin, I would like to thank you for all that you have done for _____ the challenging year, both at school and at home. You have gone above and beyond what many people would in fostering not only a teacher-student relationship, but a friendship with _____. I can tell that teaching is not just a job for you, but who you are! Your dedication to your students is very much appreciated. Thank You!!! Sincerely, ___ and ___." When I look back at today as this student sat in the hall crying over doing late work for me and then finally making eye contact and conceding that this was not their "personal best" and feeling frustrated at their lack of drive for the day; I am reminded that I am not always aware to the extent of my value in the lives of my students but also that each student has a life beyond school as do I which can be consuming…Olathe's mantra…Students First…is something that I really try to embrace with each child. They are the sole reason why I have a job and they are what I do each day.

I bet you're wondering what all of this has to do with the Luck of the Irish. I have a second level appeal with BCBS on St. Pat's at 1:30 pm, I am not anticipating good things. The new appeal is for medical necessity. Obviously, I do not need the extra skin removed to live my life so I am anticipating a big green four leaf clover NO on next Thursday. However, Fox 4 wanted to come today and film in my classroom…they were turned down by HR. Linda Wagar did however come and film me with Scott and give me the best surprise of my life to date. A doctor with KU Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics is going to accept my case along with his residents!!! I started crying on camera, I had no idea what to say other than thank you. How does one repay what was once a dream not to be fulfilled with the gift that a doctor and medical center offers? Not only is it a specialist, it is the head of the department with the residents who are all going to be working on me. I feel like the Venus di Milo who has been slowly sculpted for the past five years waiting for her Master architect to be standing back and admiring HIS handiwork. Not yet, but I know that it is close. The first person I called…mom…the second…Drew. Drew is the one who got the whole ball started in the first place, he made some calls and caused people to look into my case. I drove to Bally, through hazy contacts to share my extreme joy. Not there. Drew was across the street at Best Buy waiting in line for an iPad. (Guy thing.) J I drove over, floated in and hugged him, while the line watched me gush and tear up all over again. His beautiful wife Romi and family met me in the parking lot and hugged me as well. I am truly blessed to have Drew as my coach. I know that it is an investment, but I consider him much more than just my trainer. He challenges me in my physical, emotional and spiritual growth as well. He is very much like the older brother which I would have wanted growing up to mentor me. What makes this even more special is that my sessions were "up" yesterday. Both of us knew that I could not afford him and still save for surgery. God provides in mysterious ways. I feel like I got my carrot cake, and I ate it too!

Now what…? Well, running the Westport St. Pat's 5k, finishing grade cards, buying luggage for Chicago and my practicum are all on the agenda for tomorrow. Maybe sometime in there I will find time to get some serious packing done and buy a book to read. Truly, this is a day which was not to be forgotten in a year which has been one of the best of my life. I am truly starting to reap the sweet seeds of hard-work and sacrifice which were planted long ago.