Verona and "PIF"

In November, four people were chosen to receive $500 courtesy of Becker Law Office to “Pay it Forward.” This is part one of a four part series following up with those people and their “Pay it Forward” efforts. The stories were written by Kelsey Sweeney and Maggie McCann, student interns in the Athletic Marketing Department

Chad Warren, a teacher in Verona, has taught for over 15 years, and in the process has crossed paths with hundreds of students. As a teacher he always hopes to have a small impact on as many students’ lives as possible. This year, however, the tables have turned as one of his students, Mikey O’Brien, has had a huge impact on his life. Mikey is like any normal 14 year‐ old girl besides the fact that she is battling something that many kids her age never have to face: cancer. Mikey was diagnosed in December 2004 with a brain tumor and since then has had to go through numerous surgeries and bouts of chemotherapy. Although she is currently undergoing chemotherapy, she takes every chance she has to attend school. In fact, on a recent snow day, Mikey was unlike many other kids, crossing her fingers that school would not be cancelled. Mikey loves school and looks at learning as an opportunity that she is blessed to be given. This perspective shines through in all aspects of her life as she says, “ I am blessed to have the friends, family & community that are there to support me through all of this.”  Mikey’s school in Verona has even begun a campaign called HEADRUSH for Mikey, where $ 2 bracelets are being sold to support HEADRUSH, a foundation that supports individuals battling the same brain cancer as Mikey, as well as Mikey’s family. Most recently, Gilda’s Club of Madison gave Mikey and her family the opportunity to attend a Wisconsin football game in a suite, where she got to meet Barry Alvarez and Ron Dayne. These opportunities have given her an outlet to experience the same fun and joys of a normal 14 year old. Mikey knows she is lucky to have the overwhelming amount of support of countless people along her journey.

When Chad received information about the Pay It Forward campaign sponsored by Don Becker,he said there was no hesitation as to who he wanted to nominate and where he wanted the money to go. Chad Warren immediately submitted the proposal of using the $500 to assist Mikey and her family with medical bills and other expenses that were difficult to pay due to the time and energy that is devoted to such an illness. On November 24, Chad received a phone call from the UW Athletic Department notifying him that his submission had been chosen out of over 200 submissions. He was ecstatic and instantly began devising ways of getting Mikey and her family to the Women’s Hockey game where the winners would officially be announced. On November 30, a few minutes before walking onto the ice to receive the $500 from Becker Law Office, Mikey and her family were notified that Chad had submitted this idea and that they had won the award. Tears of joy streamed down their faces as they ere honored by the efforts Chad made to help their family out.

After receiving this money, Mikey herself has continued to Pay It Forward in her own community. Just a few days ago, she was ringing bells in support of the Salvation Army with her family. She also bought a holiday gift card for an elderly woman that would not otherwise have been so lucky.  This kind, giving attitude is something that Mikey has had all of her life, and is something that has even grown since being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2004, as since then she has seen the many people devoting their time and energy to her cause.  With 10 months left of chemotherapy, Mikey knows she has a long road ahead of her, but she also knows that she will be take it one step at a time with the support and guidance of her family and friends. When asked what she wants people to know about what she has learned through this experience, Mikey smiled and said, “ Take things day by day. Do what you can for yourself and leave the

rest in God’s hands.”

 

If you are interested in learning more about HEADRUSH for Mikey, please contact Chad Warren at chad.warren@verona.k12.wi.us.