I posted this on Humtley neighbors but wanted to share it here too:
I would like to express my thanks & gratitude to the staff & students of Hannah Martin for a fantastic school year. My daughter Faith has thrived there the last 3 years but this year has been especially wonderful despite some rather un-wonderful & rather extraordinary events that have occurred in her young life during the past 11 months. I really wanted everyone to know how much we appreciate everything that everyone in the school has done for us. If you would like to learn more, please keep reading. It’s pretty long tho – I have a tendency to go word crazy ;)
My daughter Faith was a 5th grade student at Martin this year. Faith has bi-lateral hip dysplasia. She had back to back surgeries 3 weeks apart at age 2 & then another surgery on her left hip at 3 ½. The latter surgery helped get her hip socket formed correctly but left her with a left leg that turned out. Last July she had surgery again to try to straighten out her left leg & hopefully help with her gait. They cut thru her femur at the “neck” where the ball is at the top. The leg was repositioned & then a metal plate & screws were put in to stabilize it while it healed. We weren’t certain what her weight bearing status was going to be when she started school last Fall. A few days before school started she had x-rays and we learned she was still going to be non-weight bearing & in a wheel chair still as school was starting.
When we got home from her appointment I called District 158 transportation & Martin to let them know. From the very beginning everyone was supportive and helpful. New bus arrangements were made & given to us. When we went to open house all of the staff that would be working with her made sure to touch base with us and reassure us everything would be fine. When we met with Faith’s new teacher Miss Weel she greeted us with a big smile and a burst of positive energy. She was not expecting nor had a chance to plan for a child in a wheelchair to be in her classroom but she took it all in stride and said how excited she was to have Faith in her class this year.
Things went pretty well. Faith progressed from the wheel chair to just using a walker to walking on her own. She still needed some extra time & help but things were getting back to normal. Then in late February she started complaining of pain in the evenings. At first we assumed it was muscle soreness due to the increase in activity but as it seemed to get worse instead of better & her PT noticed her strength was lessening instead of improving we called to get her into the doctor. It turned out that the metal plate in her leg and broke literally in half! Plus the bone was still not healed all the way thru. There was a significant gap that needed to fill with new bone & the plate had given out before the bone was finished healing. She was going to have to have surgery again almost immediately. We went to school the next day with her on crutches & bearing the bad news. She was to have surgery on the next Thursday, March 10th and then would be out of school until after Spring Break.
After her surgery I went into school to check on homework. The office staff and nurse talked to me about setting up in-home tutoring. I got a phone call awhile later that her teacher from last year, Miss McMahon had volunteered for the assignment as soon as it was put out & would that work for us. Knowing that a teacher that Faith already knew & loved would be coming in to help made my day. Miss McMahon is not only an awesome teacher but a great friend to my daughter. She had come to visit her over the summer after the first surgery, so had Mrs. Martin another teacher at the school that Faith was very fond of. Faith recovered at home from her surgery boosted by emails from Miss Weel, cards from her classmates, a visit by her girl scout troop & tutoring visits from Miss McMahon.
When Spring Break was over she resumed school back in a wheelchair & completely non-weight bearing. She was back on the special bus with a simple phone call and welcomed back to the building & classroom with warm happy smiles. I can’t say enough about the compassion, warmth & incredibly positive & supportive attitude of everyone on the Martin staff. From the support staff in the office, to the nurses and Mrs. Taylor the social worker to the teachers she learned from & worked with: Miss Weel, Mrs. Burley, Miss McMahon & Mrs. Martin & the specials teachers. To the administrative staff at the school & in the special needs department. I also must mention the transportation staff & her awesome bus driver & aide.
As wonderful as the staff has been I also have to give my deepest heart felt thanks to the students at Martin. We hear often these days about bullying in the schools. I was so worried about my daughter going to 5th grade in a wheelchair & a big ugly orthopedic brace that encircled her body. As we all know kids can be cruel when other kids are different, but the students at Martin were as accepting as the adults. Her classmates helped out and treated her with kindness. Every time we went to a school event or even if we ran into kids outside of school shopping she was greeted with waves & warm smiles & “Hi Faith!” She attended the 5th grade dance in her wheelchair & had the time of her life.
With the emotional & physical ups & downs Faith experienced this school year the potential for disaster was huge. Instead it was her best year yet. She came home with straight As on her report card but more importantly she finished off the year full of confidence & excitement over being an “official” middle schooler next year.
I know some might question why I would reveal so much of my family’s personal life in a public forum. But with all the negatives that get posted everyday I wanted to share something I feel is so profoundly positive about our community. The kindness & support we have received from the district, the school & the people of Huntley this past year has been tremendous. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
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