Students rally behind Catholic school teacher with leukemia

Dec 8, 2011 / 23:52 pm

Kate Truax, a beloved literature teacher for fifth, sixth and seventh graders at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Bethesda, Md. is receiving an outpouring of support from her students as she undergoes treatment for leukemia.
 
After receiving treatment for breast cancer during the 2009-2010 school year, Truax was diagnosed with leukemia.
 
She has been a patient at the John Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, where she underwent a bone marrow transplant on Oct. 25.
 
Truax’s students have eagerly volunteered to support Truax anyway they can.
 
The school organized 60 consecutive hours of Eucharistic adoration, with students, teachers, parents and other members of the school community offering prayers for Truax.
 
Students at Our Lady of Lourdes, who have stayed in touch with Truax via Skype, also found other ways to rally around their teacher.
 
In May, Truax was surprised during a video chat to see that two male teachers and several dozen students had shaved their heads in a gesture of solidarity. Truax’s hair had fallen out as a result of her treatment.
 
On Dec. 5, more than 20 girls from the school cut at least 10 inches from their hair and donated it in Truax’s honor to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to children who have lost their hair due to illness or accident.
 
Patricia McGann, principal of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, said that Truax has “always gone above and beyond for her students” and that they “absolutely love” her.
 
She explained that “as a school community we wanted to show her our support.”
 
“It has been an amazing experience to watch our school come together,” said McGann, adding that “the children are truly living out the values taught in the classroom each day.”