Yuma High teacher still feeling lucky

Yuma High School government teacher Kristie Wiencek has breast cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy that has caused her hair to fall out, yet she still feels lucky.

“I was absolutely floored when the Yuma High School student council presented me with a check for $500 to help out with my medical expenses,” she said.

“I feel so lucky to be teaching at this school and in this community. The support has just been tremendous. Two of my students even shaved their heads in sympathy. Of course their hair has grown back and mine hasn’t.”

Alexis Urtuzuastegui, the Yuma High student council advisor, said it was entirely the students' idea.

“We were in a meeting to decide what kind of community service project we wanted to work on, when one of the students mentioned that Ms. Wiencek had cancer. That was all it took and they started planning a barbecue to help raise money.”

The students held the barbecue during one of the biggest baseball games of the year between Yuma and Kofa High School.

“We had 10 students involved and they broke up into two teams to get the work done. They sold hamburgers and hot dogs during the game and it turned out really well. We ended up making over $500 in profit, which we presented to Kristie on a giant cardboard check on April 23.”

Wiencek said she started chemotherapy sessions in the first week of February, after learning that she had cancer on Christmas Eve. “I had to have more tests in January,” she said, “but that was one of the worst Christmases ever.”

The money will be spent covering some of her medical costs, said Wiencek. “My insurance covers most of the costs, but with so many visits to the doctors and the chemo sessions, my co-pay bills have really mounted. Plus there’s the expense of traveling to Tucson for the chemotherapy sessions.”

The chemotherapy is due to end in August, when she will have surgery. Following the operation, Wiencek said she will still have to undergo radiation therapy until November. She said plans on following her regular teaching schedule next year.

“I still can’t believe how lucky I am,” she said. “I moved here from Ohio three years ago and this is just such a wonderful community. My students have been among my biggest supporters, although I am lucky to have my fiancé and my father to both help me. My Dad is retired and moved down here from Ohio to help me when we learned I had cancer.

 “No one ever wants to ask for help, but I simply wouldn’t be getting this kind of care anyplace else. This is the best place to have something like this happen to me. So many people here in Yuma have said to call them if I need anything at all. People are wonderful here.”