Sara Stadem | Editor
The Tri-Valley School is showing that their school culture: The Mustang Way – Every Student, Every Day! Be Kind, Have Integrity, Be Respectful, Strive for Excellence; not only applies towards their students, but their employees as well.
Heather Siemonsma, a Special Education Association at the Tri-Valley School, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer in 2020 and has recently started another round of chemotherapy. So, the Tri-Valley School decided to start a penny war to help Heather according to Tri-Valley Special Education Director Kate Haar.
“Heather is an amazing part of our school. Mrs. Johnson, elementary principal, and I decided to put on the penny war together to help Heather and bring awareness to colon cancer,” Haar said.
According to Haar, all grade levels are participating with the penny war. How does it work? Each grade level has a container in their respective office, Haar explained, and if the students put pennies or bills in their container, the amount increases. If another grade level puts sliver coins in their containers, the amount decreases. The grade level in each school with the highest amount in the end wins the war. “So, we will actually have four winners in the end… three grade levels and Heather!” Haar explained.
Heather’s journey with colon cancer started long before she was diagnosed on August 17, 2020. “I was having stomach aches that would put me in bed all day long. I wouldn’t be able to eat or get up,” Heather said. She continued, “I kind of let it go for a couple of years because it would just be for a day once a month or couple of months. So, I would think it was something I ate or something. I just always thought it was something I ate, that’s why I was having this pain in my stomach.”
Once Heather decided to get it checked out, they did a colonoscopy. “That’s when they found the tumor in my cecum. From there, they took out a little bit of my colon and a little bit of my small intestine and that tumor,” Heather explained. She also explained the doctors had found a couple lymph nods that had cancer and three spots on her lungs that had cancer which were removed later.
“So, I did 12 rounds of chemotherapy and that ended in March. There were spots on my lungs but they were just watching it. We thought we were good to go until my next scan in August,” Heather said.
On August 23, Heather got the news that the three spots had grown and another spot was found on her abdominal wall. “That’s when she (my doctor) decided I needed to go back on chemo because she was afraid these sports would keep growing and more spots would start,” Heather said.
Heather had her found round of bi-weekly chemotherapy on Friday, October 1. Heather receives her chemotherapy through a pump for 46 hours. “I go to the hospital for the first infusion and then I get the pump with the medicine. So, I get to take the pump and be at home during it,” Heather explained. She continued, “Sometimes I forget when I’m sleeping so when I wake up, I’m like ‘oh yeah, that’s right, I have to take this with me.’ So, when I get it off on Sunday, I feel so free.”
When asked how long she will have to do the chemotherapy, Heather’s answer wasn’t an easy one for her to explain, she said. “I’m not sure how to answer that. It might be forever. We just don’t know. There are pills I could take but that might cause more indigestion and more side effects. So, I might be better off with this,” Heather said. She continued, “Until something better comes along, I will continue to do chemo. Like I told my husband, until there is a cure this is what we will do.”
With the chemotherapy comes the side effects of being very tired and nauseous, Heather explained, but said that she is very thankful for the Tri-Valley school during all of this. “Monday was my first day after chemo. I was really tired and I usually ride the bus after school and I didn’t have to ride the bus after school on Monday to make it a little bit shorter day for me,” Heather said. She continued, “So, they are really helping me out at Tri-Valley to make this work for me. I’m very, very grateful to Tri-Valley.”
Heather’s connection to the Tri-Valley school has been around for quite some time. Heather has been a part of the school district for 18 years now. Heather’s husband, Paul, is a Tri-Valley graduate and both of her sons, Andrew and Brandon, also graduated from Tri-Valley.
As for the penny war, Heather said she thinks it’s wonderful and the students seem to be having fun with it. She also said, “They do recognize me more. Working in preschool, I don’t see a whole lot of older students but now I get recognized more and get more hi’s in the hall ways.”
Haar also agreed the students are enjoying the penny war. “They love it! It’s fun to watch their excitement as they strategically add to their own containers and try to “attack” other grade levels,” Haar said. She continued, “There have even been hints about secret grade level plans for when they plan to put their money in the containers.”
For anyone going through something similar, Heather’s advice to that positivity goes a long way, find a great support system and doctors. “My family has been there through it all so a great support system is a must. I’ve been happy with my care at Sanford. If there are any questions the nurses and doctors will answer them,” she said.
Heather said, “Colon cancer is highly treatable if detected early starting at age 45 and I was diagnosed at age 46. So, I wish I would have had a colonoscopy earlier. I encourage those to get it done.” She concluded, “Our faith in God has really helped us through all of this. I feel like if I didn’t have God in my life, this would have been so much worse. I just know that people have been praying and that has really helped me with this journey. All the support from people praying…”
For anyone wishing to help Heather in her journey by donating, Haar explained donations can be dropped off at the central office with Dana Sundal. The donations can be put in a specific grade level container to help with the war, or it can be just an overall donation to Heather. The penny war is in effect until October 14.
Haar said, “We all wish the best for Heather in her fight against cancer. Thank you to all our families and community members for their support!”