This post has nothing to do with an amazing new product. I haven’t an incredible teaching idea to share. I’ve nothing to sell or giveaway except perhaps . . . hope! As I approach the beginning of a New Year, I want to reflect on the many blessings of this past year and tell you a story, about the strength and the power of a community.
When I started blogging in early 2012, it was merely a way for me to connect with other teachers, share ideas and maybe earn a little extra cash to offset the obscene amount of money I was constantly spending on my classroom and students. But it quickly became much more. To an outsider, even my family and friends, it was strange that I had the ability to develop close friendships and connections with teachers all over the country and world that I had never met. But that is exactly what has happened. Over the years I have developed friendships with men and women I would have never had the joy of knowing if I had not started blogging and creating teaching materials. It has made my world much smaller and much richer in friendships. And I can say that and people can hear the words come out of my mouth, but unless you are in this world, unless you’ve had the joy of meeting your online friends in real life at a teaching conference or a TpT conference or blogger meet-up, then you really don’t get it.
People outside this ‘world’ certainly don’t get it. I mean, seriously, how can you call people who you see maybe once a year some of your best friends? It’s not possible. The friendships can’t possibly be that strong. Do you depend on these people? Are they there for you when you need them? Or is this just another one of those internet/cyber fantasy worlds. I can guarantee you it is NOT like anything else out there.
The community and collaborations and friendships are very real and very strong. So strong and so real that when one of our members hurt, we rally. I’ve seen it many times. A teacher has a student fighting a disease, another has an injured spouse or child . . . What do we do? We rally! We raise money! We pray! Never in my wildest dreams, did I think for a moment that one day I would need this community to rally for me, but they did.
As some of you may or may not know, on September 29th, 2015 I walked into my school and told my principal, “I’m leaving. MacKale has cancer, and I don’t know when or if I’ll ever be back.” My 12-year-old, my amazing, beautiful, athletic and vibrant boy had been diagnosed with Ostreosarcoma. A 17 cm tumor had been located in his left tibia. While MacKale had lived his whole life with hemophilia, he had lived fully despite it. And as if his bleeding disorder wasn’t enough, he now had cancer.
My world came crashing in on top of me. I remember hiding in my closet and hearing MacKale’s hematologist (who had in an instant become his oncologist) tell me, “ . . . I think we might be able to save his leg.” We went from believing his clotting medicine wasn’t working, to discussing how we were going to keep him alive and whether he would have his leg amputated in a blink of an eye.
I was scared! I was angry! I was devastated! I felt incredibly alone. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew, without a doubt, that I needed prayers for my MacKale. I needed prayers for his brothers and prayers for Mike, my husband, and for me. I didn’t want one or two prayers. I wanted MASSIVE amounts of prayers . . . I wanted God to hear me loud and clear. I wanted Him to hear from everyone. I wanted him working overtime and the only way I knew to get those kinds of prayers was to enlist ‘my people’ into the fight. So during the hour and a half ride to the hospital for MacKale’s first round of chemo, I wrote a post begging for prayers. My teacher ‘friends’ throughout the country and world who read my blog, TpT teachers, my online teacher family stepped in, my Franklin and CAPS team — they all carried the news far and wide. They shared that post and every update after. They asked their teacher friends, bloggers asked their readers, their churches and their families to pray for MacKale and our family and suddenly, I didn’t feel so alone anymore.
Still scared . . . still devastated . . . But I knew without a doubt, I was not alone. When I look back on that original post, the first comments . . .were from my readers and teachers and other bloggers in this enormous online teaching community. It was those very same friends that have carried me through the last year. Teachers I never ‘knew’ are near and dear to me, because they cared enough to reach out and share their own story or send me a note letting me know they had added me to their church’s prayer list.
I can not in anyway shape or form begin to tell you all the demonstrations of kindness that were shown to me. I can’t list every possible person who sent a card, texted or called to see if I was ok. Quite often in the middle of the night when I lay sleepless listening to MacKale breath, it was those late night texts, Facebook IMs and emails that kept me sane.
It was teachers doing what teachers do best . . . ‘taking care of someone else.’
Deedee spoiled my boys with candy and Legos.
Jennifer filled my Facebook and Pinterest boards when I couldn’t. Maria did stuff to my blog that needed to be done that I don’t understand and didn’t know needed to be done. She kept it going. She check in on me. She listened . . . She was there whenever I needed her.
And her sweet husband made MacKale laugh . . .
Mary told me it was ok to be ticked at God and to get mad . . . She and Jodi sent me notes and texts when I was alone. I don’t know how they did it. But at the times I felt the worst, they’d be there. Cheryl organized a group of my favorite bloggers who put together a packet of ‘must-haves’ and goodies that would make Mac more comfortable and our hospital stay easier.
Patty never failed to send Mac notes with jokes. These were the jokes he would tell the doctors and keep us laughing and maintain our sanity. She single-handedly rallied TpT friends and teachers to send MacKale and I a big box of LOVE in time for his surgery. So many teachers sent us notes and gifts and made those hours before and after his surgery go so much faster. I can’t even begin to list them all.
Abby and Elizabeth had an online party that raised money for Osteosarcoma research. Kim and Annie kept me in Starbuck $$$. Lori, Leigh Ann, Debbie . . . They cared for me . . . Checked on me . . . Loved me! And sweet Holly . . . she was a prayer warrior like so many others and that sweet spirit was carried on in her son, Colton, who saved all his birthday money to buy MacKale a robot that he could work on and put together when he couldn’t do anything else.
And on the day of MacKale’s limb salvage surgery, my phone blew up with so many emails, IMs and text with pictures of these amazing teachers . . .
In my own Franklin Elementary family . . .
and even from teachers far far away . . . amazing teachers like all of you. They donned their Team MacKale shirts and spread the word and rallied strangers from every corner to pray for my sweet boy.
It was 14 grueling hours waiting for that tumor to be removed and his leg to be rebuilt . . .
but I had my teacher family in my corner . . .
praying for us and forever supporting us.
I truly believe that God planted me where I needed to be in 2012 so that when MacKale got sick, I would be surrounded by a community of teachers that would care for my family as only teachers do.
As for MacKale, he completed his chemo in June and we both finished the last 10 days of school together. He returned to his school and I went back in my classroom after leaving nearly 9 months earlier. He is stronger and getting stronger everyday. While there is no ‘remission’ label for osteosarcoma, we are happy to say that as of today, there is ‘No Evidence of Disease.’ Osteosarcoma is a beast though. It has a tendency to rear that ugly cancer head when you least expect it, so we will continue to have scans every three months to monitor MacKale’s health and any evidence of it returning. But no matter what happens . . . no matter what comes our way . . . I am know that I am blessed to have my teacher family and friends there, praying and supporting us through it all.
We are a community that strives to make things better. We deeply care for our members. We pray, we rally and we take action to support one another. It’s what teachers do everyday . . . even when no one is looking. It’s who we are!
There are no words that can fully expressed what you have all done for me and my family this year. I am, of course, humbled by the outpouring of love an support we have received. As a family, we are constantly wondering what it is that God wants us to learn from all this . . . what is it that he wants us to do? We continue to look for those answers, but until then, I know that when I look towards the new year, my goals for now will be to be more intentional and thankful . . . intentional in my prayers, intentional in my time, intentional in my words and in my giving to others. Thankful for time, thankful for faith, thankful for family and friends–and thankful for all of you.
Many blessings for a Happy and Healthy New Year friends. Believe me when I say, I love each and every one of you dearly.
God’s continued blessings to you and your family.
What a heartfelt post! As always, you have a special gift when it comes to expressing your thoughts. 2016 was definitely a difficult year for you and the family, but it’s nice to read about how loved and supported you all were and continue to be.
Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year! I sincerely hope that 2017 is gentle, kind, and loving, to the entire McGuire Family!
I’m doing a happy dance while crying happy tears!
Oh Sandy I was JUST talking about you yesterday when someone asked Mac about the “I’m A Mac” shirt he was sporting.
Marsha
Prayers and hugs for you and your family! A cancer diagnosis is so hard on a family, so happy that things are going well. Here’s to a healthy and happy 2017!
Thank you Donna. It is hard but we are determined that it will not all be in vain.
Marsha
What a lovely way to start 2017 with such a beautiful post. It is wonderful to hear how God’s love and grace has been showered on your family and tangibly shown through your community. Very happy to hear of MacKale’s continued improvements. Wishing all of you His richest blessings for the coming year. Continuing in prayer, J
Thank you so much for your kind words and support.
Marsha
Here come the tears! Such a beautiful post that so perfectly expresses the love and dedication that our community of teachers embodies. Wishing you and the entire McGuire clan a happy and HEALTHY 2017 filled with more blessings than you can possible count.
With all our love,
Rob and Maria
Love you both!
M
I hope the year ahead is full of only positive things for you and your family. You are an amazing and inspirational teacher, mom and person. Thank you for sharing is much of yourself with us!
Thank you Marcy. I am only what I am because of the amazing support I have received from my peers, friends and families in education.
Marsha
Best post of the new year! Our profession is filled with such caring and compassionate people. Wishing MacKale and your the entire McGuire family well in 2017!
Thanks so much for your kind words. Yes our profession IS filled with some amazing people.
Marsha
Tears welled as I read your post. I’m so thankful that our profession has rallied around you all. God has an amazing ability to put people in our paths before we know we are going to need them. What a wonderful wait to start a new year. Prayers for continued healing and no NED. God is so very good!
Happy New Year!
Sherry
I had no idea.
Prayers for MacKale and your whole family!- including your extended blog family!
God bless.
Happy New Year Marsha! Wishing you and your family a wonderful, happy and healthy new year! Always in my prayers. :o)
I only began following your blog for the last 3 months. 8 years ago my eldest daughter gave birth to a set of twins while heavily using illegal drugs. One of the twins died, and the second twin was extremely sick with extreme short bowel syndrome (he has 11 cm of small intestine and cannot absorb enough nutrition to sustain his own weight). Because of the size and scope of his medical needs Social Services wanted to institutionalize him. Although my daughter has not kept in touch with us for years, and did loose custody of her children, I wept that this was no life for a helpless young child. I underwent training to learn to care for his medical needs and my husband and I were granted permanent custody of him. I learned to administer his nightly IV nutrition, we learned to conquer severe line infections, bacterial overgrowth, etc. He still has difficulties but not near as much as he had when we first got him. He is 9 years old now. The doctors at the time thought his life expectancy was around 2 years.
I have been a SAH mom for 30 years while running my own private successful preschool out of my home. Now my husband’s health is prematurely failing him with chronic fatigue and premature memory loss, It will be up to me to secure the medical insurance, and an income that I can continue to raise my grandson Aaron, and my older struggling boys. I have gone back to school and am about to graduate. I desire to be the kindergarten teacher I longed to be as a young adult. Your blog has been a huge source of inspiration for me. I am not easily impressed, but I am so very impressed with what you offer people like me. Next year I will assume all financial responsibility for my (almost 2nd) family. (I still have my 2 youngest boys home, age 20 and 22. One has Autism, one had Squamous Cell Carcinoma 2 years ago). I am nervous about measuring up in a new career. Common Core is strange to me, I am a firm believer of Developmentally Appropriate Practice, and I have never had an administrator tell me what to teach and when and how exactly to assess my students. I must figure all this out again in the next several months. Your blog gives me hope that I can. The good Lord knows all the things we need, but sometimes his way of strengthening us and helping us each reach our potential is very different than what we might think. May He continue to bless your family!
Oh thank you so much for sharing Renee. You sound like you have a rough road ahead, but it seems like you have great faith and will see it through. Thanks for your kind words. Many blessings,
Marsha
May this be a blessed New Year for you and your family. Your blogpost started off my new year reflecting on the important things in life – family, friends, a faithful God, health, love in action,… Thank you for sharing your inspirational journey.
After reading your post, I can only say God bless you and your family. May this year and all the rest be filled with His blessings, health and peace. Your blog is an inspiration and help to me and many others.
Thanks so much Frances
What a great and powerful story of faith and in the community of teachers! Here’s to a happy and healthy 2017!
Happy New Year to you and your family! Wishing you and your family a healthy year full of fun, love, laughter, and more of God’s blessings!
No one fights alone is our mantra. Your family and community show that if it has to be done, it has to be done together. I loved reading all the ways that your friends came together for you all of you. When cancer attacks, it really does affect the whole family. .. . THE WHOLE FAMILY! Mack’s smile in your pictures throughout the process gave all of us more reason to keep praying and doing what we could do get him better and you more able to breathe. Bless you and your family for what you’ve had to endure and for a new year with bigger and better things ahead of you.
Patty
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Lettuce
Lettuce who?
Lettuce in, it’s freezing out here.
Knock knock!
Who’s there?
Snow.
Snow who?
Snow use – I’ve forgotten my name again!
Wow! I had no idea what kind of community I stumbled onto. Sounds lilke an amazing group of people who I want to get to know. I’ve only been following you for a month or two but I will continue. Thank you for being so open and transparent. I will pray that God will comfort you like only He can and continue to bring health and healing to your entire family. Wishing you a very happy and blessed new year!
thanks so much Nicole
Marsha
I came to your site tonight to look for ways to help establish my new preschool room with differentiated activities and organization, but what I got was so much more! You have such an amazing story and amazing friends! And you are right, as teachers we want to take care of everyone! God bless you and your family and Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this amazing post that I needed to read tonight!!
Thank you so much Ashley.
Proud to be a teacher! So proud of you and how you handle ‘life’…best, best wishes for a peaceful 2017 filled with blessings.
I read your post and was deeply touched! It is a blessing to see how God can move and take care of things that we have no control over. So thankful for your good news. I will add your son’s name to my prayer list. May God continue to bless you and your family. Phil. 4:13
I would love that. Thanks so much for thinking of us.
Marsha
This was such a BEAUTIFUL tribute to all your prayer warriors. I am so… happy your son is doing great. God Bless you and your family. Have a wonderful New Year!!!
Thanks so much Brender