Almost immediately after the start of the school year, my daughter starting getting sick. It was the normal stuff; colds, sinus infections and I am pretty sure, every viral respiratory infection known to man that Primary Immunodeficiency Disease brings to bare. Every two to three weeks we were visiting the doctor's office or the urgent care facility and even some emergency room visits. By October, I had lost count and started trying to think of ways to protect her yet keep her in school. I struggled with the idea of possibly sending her to school in a surgical mask.
I struggled in my own mind of how wearing a mask could affect her. We had educated her teacher, and through him, her classmates, of some of the things she needed to do to help keep her from getting sick; disinfecting her area after changing of classes, frequent use of hand washing and hand sanitizers. Her classmates had grown accustomed to those procedures and had accepted them; but would they accept a mask?
I sat down and talked with her about my concerns and the idea of wearing a mask. She is only ten years old but I felt as though this was a decision that she needed to be a part of since it would certainly be her to endure any teasing that might occur. So we had a long talk and ultimately agreed it was time to try something new.
The school had been wonderful so far in accommodating her needs and helping with ideas of how to keep her infections at a minimum. I placed a call to her principle and also texted her teacher that the following Monday I would be sending her to school wearing a mask and hoped they could help with any teasing that might occur. Her teacher texted me back and asked where he could get masks. I told him the pharmacy and wondered what he was up too. I had a suspicion that he was going to ask the class to wear the masks as well, but would the kids really want to do this for my daughter?
Monday comes and before we leave the house for school, I ask her if she is ready. She assures me she is. She is a little nervous but is ready to tackle the day. Not long after I dropped her off at school, I received a text from her teacher asking a favor of me. He had left a bag from Walgreens in his car that had been left at the repair shop that morning and wondered if I would go and pick it up for him and bring it to class. My suspicions grew. I did as he asked and when I delivered the bag to school, he told me he had purchased masks. So as not to influence the class, I delivered the bag and promptly left but requested he send me a picture of whatever resulted from his plan.
Nothing could have prepared me for the text I would receive! Almost every child in my daughter's fifth grade class had chosen to wear the masks and support Emily in her battle to stay infection free. The picture he sent was absolutely amazing! All I could do was sit there and stare at my phone and cry. The kids wore the masks all day with her. My daughter was so excited. She greeted me that afternoon with a smile on her face and telling me all about how the kids wore the masks with her. There were even some kids that finished out the week with her. There were kids from other 5th grade classes that were asking to wear the masks. I was completely amazed.
I posted the picture on my Facebook page and it went viral, now having been seen all over the world. It was chosen as Facebook Picture Of The Day on one of our local television stations and a story has been printed in our local newspaper. I am so proud to know these students. I am so proud to be a part of our community.
There have been many reports in the news of random acts of kindness. I can not express what this act of kindness has meant to us. This random act of kindness was so much more than a financial gift or service, it was a gift of inclusion. A gift of acceptance and the willingness to assist in a simple yet grand way to keep a child healthy. I think there is much to be learned from this 5th grade teacher and his students.
These are our friends and this is our village.
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