Sara Johnson never thought she would start her school year with a cancer diagnosis, not did she expect her students to come together to raise money for the center where she receives her care. Johnson has been a music and band teacher at Londonderry Middle School for 21 years but has spend the last few months getting treatment for head and neck cancer at the Payson Center in Concord Hospital.
Chemotherapy and over 30 radiation treatments have left her unable to return to the classroom any time soon, but Johnson has full faith and trust in her substitute, Devereux Geiger. He started shadowing Johnson in September and been covering for her since early October. Geiger knew what was going with Johnson from the start.
“She never kept it a secret that she was diagnosed with cancer,” he said.
The most difficult part of the whole experience for Johnson was being away from her students, she explained, her voice raw and soft spoken from the radiation treatments.
“That’s the one thing I miss most…” Johnson said, “is being with my kids every day.”
Geiger wanted to do something special for Johnson’s birthday on Jan. 12 and asked the students in the middle school band what they could all do. One of the kids suggested they all bring in a dollar to donate. Geiger took this idea and went a step farther. After speaking with Johnson, it was decided the money would go to the HOPE Resource Center at the Payson Center in Concord. According to the center’s website, HOPE stands for “Hope Offered and Provided by Employees of Concord Hospital.”
The HOPE Resource Center provides a variety of services to its cancer patients. Some of these include complimentary therapies like yoga, hypnosis or Reiki, financial counseling, nutritional counseling, dedicated oncology social workers, spiritual care and educational programs. It also has a program called the Anticancer Lifestyle Program, which helps patients prepare for and cope with life with cancer.
Geiger and the students raised $176 dollars between the three middle school bands (just about one dollar for every student), and contacted the Payson Center. Gail Dexter, the director of annual giving for the Concord Hospital Trust, came by to pick up the donation. She was amazed by the generous contribution the middle schoolers wanted to make to people who were battling cancer, just like their teacher.
“Her students wanted to make a donation in her honor,” said Dexter. “It’s pretty unique to honor a teacher this way.” She explained that the center usually gets blank donations, not ones for a specific person.
“I just think that for kids it’s so hard to look outside themselves… and to see them give like that is so touching,” exclaimed Dexter.
Geiger agreed. “It’s important for the kids to see who they are donating to,” he said. “I think it’s more meaningful.”
Johnson said she feels blessed to have Geiger covering her classes until she is well enough to return. “I’m so thankful for him as my sub. I’m lucky.”
Although Johnson cannot be in the classroom, she still stays connected with her students through the school’s Edmodo program. She uses it to keep up with class activities and to answer questions when she needs to. She watches and listens to the kids perform through recording they send her. The students even email Johnson to let he know they’re thinking of her.
“It’s one of the happiest parts… to hear from my kids and know I haven’t been forgotten,” said Johnson.
Geiger said Johnson’s students ask about her constantly. They always want to know how she is, what’s she up to and when she’ll be back.
“It’s a humbling feeling,” he said, “covering for a teacher that’s so well liked.”
Johnson said she is expecting a new set of test results in March, which will tell her if her cancer is gone. Until then, she stays connected with her students the best way she can, knowing their generous donation will help others like her on their own roads to recovery.