Angels and Teachers are one in the same

Hello Readers, 

I come to you a very humbled woman today. Not because of my own issues, but because sometimes, seeing what others go through makes you truly appreciate what you have.

I want to tell you about a woman and her son. No, he is not an only child. He has four siblings. He is an uncle. He is in First Grade. He has not always been a homeschool kid. But he wasn't pulled from public school for many of the reasons you might think: 

Bullying? Never
Problem child? No way
Education standards? Nope
Spoiled? Heck no. 

Loved? Of course
Cared for? You bet
Lazy pancreas? Unfortunately

Younger than three years of age, this little guy was diagnosed with diabetes. Since then, his life and that of his family was literally tossed up into the air. Throwing aside all other issues, the most important became keeping their son alive. 

Through heartache, lonely cries, and mounds of support, this family has become a beacon of hope for many other families who struggle with childhood diabetes. And no matter how difficult their journey has been, they have found a way to make the best of a bad situation. His mother elected to homeschool him because he is still too young to know what his body is going through and she hopes when he is older, he can return, should he choose, to a traditional school settings. 

You see, this little fellow has won the hearts of hundreds of people. His infectious smile and bright blue eyes make it hard to stay away. His eagerness to be involved is heart-melting, and his strength to battle through the numerous blood checks, ups & downs of sugar, and the fear of simply knowing he is not like others, is a tug at the toughest of hearts. Yet he perseveres. 

He knows the angels that encourage him to keep going. But little do people know about the lives HE has touched. Along with receiving hundreds of birthday cards from family and friends, to patches from local police, fire, and rescue departments, and around the country, he continues to remain a part of the public school life and the teacher he left behind. 

I've requested permission to post this about him, and his mother has generously allowed me to do so. 

Read on to find out just how wonderful they are! 

Jennifer and Justan

From her Facebook Post: 

"There are times that very special people appear in our lives. I have one that came into my life when I was in first grade.
I never had the honor of her being my teacher, but I was always in great envy of her long locks, her smiling eyes, and her contagious laughter.

Fast forward MANY years.

She happened to become the bus driver where we live along with her still being a teacher. She has greeted me and my children day in and day out for many years. She has taken them from me and returned them every day with a smile on her face.

Then the day came for me to trust another person to care for my youngest. It was one of the most difficult decisions I ever had to make. I chose her.

She was with me every morning. The mornings I cried. The mornings I couldn't put Justan on her bus because I couldn't get his blood sugar up quick enough. The mornings I begged her to take him. She was his bus driver and his teacher. She wanted to learn about diabetes, so I taught her, and she was freaking amazing.

When I decided to homeschool Justan, it was her I went to for guidance. She brought me tons of papers to help Justan in the areas that he had the most trouble. I'm using those materials still.
Then today the bus stops at our house. None of my kids were on it, so I was a bit confused. I walked outside barefooted in the rain to see what was happening, and this little boy delivered a bag to me. It was a bag full of valentines and goodies for Justan from her class.

I've often worried about Justan missing things like this. I've wondered if I'm cheating him, but then she was sent to us. He got to celebrate today too thanks to her.

So, please, teacher friends, just know that you matter. You make a difference. Should you see Mrs. Lisa Dachs, give her a hug, a high five, a fist bump...anything to let her know that what she has done for my family matters. She has had me in tears for hours by her simple act of kindness and her dedication of going above and beyond for a child.

To all of my friends, thank your child's teacher. They are amazing people. Appreciate them and what they do."

You see folks, it isn't always the way society spins it. Homeschooling is for homeschooler's and public school is for public schoolers - and one can become the other in an instant - by choice or by need. But those who remain in the public school realm are forever touched by those students who continue on, or that become homeschooled, and they never cease to amaze us parents! 

Thank you, to all of my public school teachers for helping me be the person I am. Thank you to the teachers of my children, before they were homeschooled, and of course, thank you to the public teachers of all of the wonderful people I am proud to call my friends!

Until next time, 
​LaVonda

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