"Whole"

Seventh grader Jonah came late to class. He told me he has pins and bolts in both ankles and plates in both knees. He walks a little slow and it tires him out. Sometime this year they are going to get taken out and he will be on crutches for a while. I don't know the whole story yet, but I do know he was born with pretty messed up legs. He implied there were other things also. "I have lots of problems." It made me a little sad that he said that so readily. I spoke with the counseling office and got him a special pass approved that lets him get out of class early and to be a little late, so he can take his time, our school is really big with long hallways and lots of stairs. He is a very timid little guy, but we are going to encourage him to actually use it. I sent an email home introducing myself and offering to help in any way.. kind of surprised I haven't heard back yet.

Ninth grader Wesley asked to leave class to get a drink, to which I always say "no", or no one would stay in their classes, he informed he that he had a medical pass that let him get out of class for drinks and going to the rest room when ever he wants... "I have cancer". But something just felt a little off. I asked around a little and found out he has had brain surgeries sometime in the last 3 years, and that he uses that special pass almost constantly, mainly just because he can. Now, in the scheme of life, if this kid dies in the next couple of years, by all means, pee and drink as much as you want. But at some point we need to look at helping him to own his own choices. The next day he showed me his newly printed pass. I asked him, very kindly, about his cancer, that I didn't know it caused more water breaks or bathroom breaks. I still don't know if cancer does or not, but it was pretty obvious that Wesley doesn't think it does, and stuttered and stumbled as he tried to come up with a good reason to wander instead of being in class. I asked him to do me a favor, and to just use it for what it was meant for and to not use it to have free reign of the school. He got a little grin on his face and said ok. The next day he used it to go get a drink, I wasn't in the middle of a lecture, so I didn't give him a hard time.

I have another student with some sort of disease in his ankles that feels like he is being stabbed every step he takes. He is doing his first power point on it.

So much we take for granted.