Hide Article Text (OCR)
JNew Lenox teacher takes classroom to studentArt Vassy/APC News ServiceTeacher Fred Parker (right) visits Keith Brosius, 12, Keith has a rare form of cancer and had to missat his New Lenox home to help with his homework, much school.Visits give extra boost in moraleAPC News ServiceFew students would look forward to a visit from a teacher, especially one bringing them homework.But not 12-year-old Keith Brosius of New Lenox.Keith was a fourth grader at Oster-Oakview School when he was diagnosed in February 1995 with a rare cancer that formed a tumor in his mouth.Trips to the hospital made him miss weeks of school. And when he was home, he was often feeling so bad from the aggressive treatments that he was unable to go to school.Then came Fred Parker.Parker, a 22-year veteran teacher and Keith’s teacher at the time, offered to help as soon as Keith was diagnosed.That has meant countless trips to the house, with worksheets and books. When Keith wasn’t feeling up to doing schoolwork, Parker would draw caricatures for him and otherwise cheer him up.Parker had his students writeto many sports organizations in the country requesting souvenirs for Keith.Now, Keith’s room is filled with posters, plaques, signedballs and wastebaskets.Keith’s parents, while not wanting to discount the efforts of others who have helped the family, said Parker’s actionshelped keep their son going.“He helped Keith through a lot of situations where your morale would go down,” said John Brosius of Tinley Park,Keith’s father. “It would be easy for teachers to say this is too hard. But (Parker) is one reason Keith’s here.”Sue Pasquarella of New Lenox, Keith’s mother, said when Keith was recovering from the intense radiation treatments and chemotherapy, he often didn’t feel like going outside to play. Instead, Keith looked forward to visits from Parker.“Mr. Parker would sit down and watch a movie with Keith,” Pasquarella said of the times when Keith was too sick to work on division or multiplication.Keith, now an active 12-year-old who likes to ride his go-cart and wants to be a police officer someday, agreed that he sometimes got “sick” when he and Parker had to work on the dreaded division.But even though he may not have wanted to work on math or reading problems, he always looked forward to visits with Parker.As for Parker, he said working with Keith was all part of the job. A trip to Children’s Memorial Hospital soon after the diagnosis was a wake-up call, Parker said.Although he had been involved with children for decades, he had never before worked with a child who had a life-threatening illness.“I just prayed every night,”Parker said, adding that he didn’t always know what was going to happen for Keith. “I felt uncomfortable saying, ‘Is he going to live?”’While Keith’s cancer has been in remission for three years, treatments weakened muscles and tissue in his mouth and throat so that he must be fed through a tube in his stomach. Doctors hope future surgeries will correct that.The weakened muscles also make it difficult for him to speak loudly, making it harder for people to understand him.But the transition back to school was easier because of Parker, Keith’s family said. Parker continued to tutor Keith, who had to repeat fourth grade because he missed so many days.In addition, Parker was Keith’s teacher again last year.Keith said the hardest part of his illness was having to make new friends when he returned to school.“I knew one kid, and he had a bunch of friends, so I met them, too,” he said, adding that his new go-cart didn’t hurt to meet people.Parker said he hopes to keep in contact with Keith, even though he’s not sure Keith will need a tutor this year.“He never gives up,” Parker said. “He’s just a joy to work with. He’s a fighter.”
Newspaper Details
New Lenox Star
New Lenox, Illinois, US
Thu, Sep 10, 1998
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Patricia R.
USA 31 Jul 2023
Other Publications Near New Lenox, Illinois
New Lenox Star
