It was July 19 when science teacher Christina Gizzarelli’s orderly life was turned upside down.
That’s when she was diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.
“When I first found out, it was all doom and gloom, not going to lie,” Gizzarelli said.
Although thyroid cancer has a less than 1% death rate, the road to recovery is anything but easy. Treatment options like chemotherapy are harsh and draining.
“I don’t want to do chemo because I see other people when they’re on it and I see how sick they get, how it wrecks their body, they’re unable to walk,” Gizzarelli said.
The students are one reason for Gizzarelli’s stress.
A DHS teacher since 2017, Gizzarelli is an important part of her students’ lives as their mentor, a listener – and even for many students – a second mom.
“I try to go to her class as much as possible and talk to her. I love her and love talking to her,” senior Taylor Truesdale said.
The side effects alone – fatigue, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, weight changes – would be enough to terrify anyone. For a teacher who spends her days standing in front of students, explaining, encouraging, and keeping the classroom alive, the thought of being that weak is overwhelming.
Then reality started setting in.
“I started to think, ‘how am I going to pay the bills?’” Gizzarelli said.
On average, cancer treatment can climb over $200,000. Thyroid cancer alone can cost $1,000- $20,000, depending on the treatment path. Insurance, hospital type and medications all factor in, but so does travel.
Living in Kansas means there are limited hospitals that specialize in treating her cancer. Each month, Gizzarelli flies to Houston, staying a full week away from home and her students.
With flights averaging $200, plus hotels and food, the expenses add up quickly on an average Kansas teacher’s salary of $47,000 a year.
While Gizzarelli’s financial struggles weigh heavily, missing school is just as painful. Every week away means her students lose time with her.
“I have to figure out how to leave a lesson plan that a sub can do without knowing science because anyone can pick up my class,” she said. “I have to make my sub plans to the point where anyone off the street can still make sure my kids are getting content.
“It’s really hard when you’re gone for multiple classes, and that’s what sucks because these kids aren’t getting the same teaching they used to from me.”
Although Gizzarelli stresses about that, she has many supporters helping her along the way. There are fundraisers being made to help her raise money.
“So me and a group of friends have started a fundraiser,” junior Carson McCracken said. “We call it ‘Miles For Gizzarelli.’ It’s basically every $5 somebody donates, somebody in the friend group will run a mile.”
Miles For Gizzarelli has raised $322 dollars. You can still donate to it until the end of the Cross Country season around the middle of November. The PrimeTime classes raised $803.59 thanks to teachers Heather Leggett and Kenneth Buff.
The fundraiser has quickly grown beyond what the students expected, turning into not just a way to raise money, but a way to show Gizzarelli how much her community loves her.
Gizzarelli’s coworkers have been stepping up, too.
“I don’t know that I really have helped her out, other than to offer assistance with biology, prayers, an ear that listens and encouragement,” science teacher Meghan Alexander said. “Christina is strong and a hard worker, so she doesn’t typically ask for a lot of help. But I think she knows that I’ll be there if she needs anything.”
Being right next door, teacher Kathleen O’Brien has become a constant source of comfort for Gizzarelli, always checking in, offering support and reminding her that she doesn’t have to face this battle alone.
“We talk about other things, and I try to provide some comic relief. I am a firm believer in laughter as a help to healing,” O’Brien said.
That kind of light-hearted support, combined with the generosity of her students, has given Gizzarelli hope and strength in the middle of her hardest days.
“The fact that so many kids are stepping up to help, I’m just in awe – I’ve reached you and impacted you to a point where you want to help me,” Gizzarelli said. “So that made me feel good because something I did in my classroom made them want to help.”