Recently, my dog — only 6 years old — had to get her leg amputated due to cancer. She had been in pain for two straight months, but after the surgery, she recovered beautifully and is now out of pain and in great spirits. She’s got three legs, but the energy of a young dog. Watching her heal made me think of someone I haven't thought about in a while — my one-on-one aide from elementary school, whom I'll call Mrs. H.
Mrs. H passed away from cancer when I was only in 4th grade. I didn’t know she was sick at all until after she was gone. She’d been my aide since first grade — almost four years — which is an eternity when you're a little kid. I’m 26 now, almost 27, and I still remember her so clearly. She was incredibly sweet and nurturing. On my very first day of 1st grade, she was right there to greet me off the bus and held my hand as she walked me to class. She even bought me my first Webkinz — a rabbit, because she knew they were my favorite animal at the time.
That particular year — 4th grade — was rough. I had a resource room teacher and another aide (Mrs. N) who were both impatient and harsh. Together, they were double trouble. I remember one day when the resource room teacher actually made me cry — the first time I had ever cried at school — and Mrs. H was so kind and comforting even though she herself was clearly tired that year. She still had enough in her to nurture me through that moment.
I now believe her fatigue was from her cancer returning. I didn’t understand that at the time. She had to start stepping back — I noticed that sometimes, she’d ask my much younger assistant teacher for help managing me when I was being difficult, which I sometimes was. Even still, she was so patient and loving.
Then came spring break. I enjoyed it like any kid would — had no idea it would be the last time I'd see Mrs. H. When I came back to school, she was absent. A substitute aide, Miss B, was there and told me Mrs. H would be gone for two weeks. Two weeks turned into three. Then one day, Miss B told me: “I’m sorry, but Mrs. H couldn’t come back.” I found out the next day that she had passed away.
I was shocked and confused. But Miss B was the best thing that could’ve happened to me during that time. She was only in her early 20s, but so sweet and gentle — just like Mrs. H had been. She went on a field trip with me that was 48 minutes away on only her second day working with me. She brought chocolate chip cookies for my class one day, which was so sweet of her. She even came into work one day when she was feeling under the weather just so I wouldn’t have to be stuck with Mrs. N. And just like Mrs. H, she got me a Webkinz — a lion this time, because I told her I wanted one for my collection.
Miss B was only supposed to be a temporary fill-in, but she ended up staying for the rest of the school year. If she hadn’t, I probably would’ve ended up with Mrs. N full-time — and that would’ve made an already painful year so much worse.
I may have been too young at the time to fully appreciate Miss B’s kindness, but what matters is that I trusted her — and looking back now, I really truly appreciate everything she did for me. She showed up when I needed someone most, and even now, all these years later, I’m so thankful for that.
TL;DR:
When my dog recently lost a leg to cancer and bounced back with so much strength, it reminded me of my one-on-one aide from elementary school, Mrs. H, who passed away from cancer when I was in 4th grade. She was by my side for nearly 4 years and was the most nurturing adult in my life at the time. After she passed, her temporary replacement, Miss B, turned out to be just as kind and supportive during a really hard year. I trusted both of them deeply as a kid, and now, at 26, I still remember and appreciate how much they did for me when I needed it most.
Yesterday, 5:20 pm
