It took a while to do the Go Fund Me campaign for my surgery.

First as a teacher there is a significant fear that comes from my students seeing me differently.  Perhaps more profound is the fear of a parent or two finding out and deciding to make my bosses decide between having a devoted teacher or getting rid of an ongoing struggle they will never let go of.

It took me a while to get to the point where I was willing to say “I simply don’t care.”  But it is a pleasant surprise to see myself make that choice.  I have been teaching special education for 22 years, it is truly how I define myself, and putting that at risk was difficult.

But I can tell you this.  Regardless of your age it is a rare blessing to feel really proud of yourself.