seeingapsychiatristandgaveherabookon“howtolet
goofyourpain.”But imagingfinallyrevealedthatshe
hadafive-inchsarcoma,araresoft-tissuecancer,eating
intoherpelvisandcausingalargebloodclotinherleg.
Treatmentinvolvedchemotherapy,radiation,andradical
surgeryremovingathirdofherpelvisandreconstructing
itwithmetal.Itwasayearinhell.Shewashospitalized
for months with complications. She’d loved cycling,
yoga,walkingherShetlandsheepdogwithherhusband,
playingmusic,andteachingherbelovedstudents.She’d
had to let go of all of that.
Eventually, however, Peg recovered and was able to
returnto teaching.She needed Canadiancrutches—the
kindthathaveacuffaroundtheforearm—togetaround
butotherwiseremainedhergracefulselfandrefilledher
rosterofstudentsinnotime.Shewassixty-two,tall,with
bigroundglasses,athickbobofauburnhair,andalovely
gentlewaythatmadeheranimmenselypopularteacher.
Whenmydaughter struggledwithgrasping asoundor
technique,Pegwasneverhurried.She’dhavehertrythis
and thentry that, and whenHunter finally got it,Peg
would burble with genuine delight and hug her close.
Ayearandahalfafterreturning,Pegwasfoundtohavea
leukemia-like malignancy caused by her radiation
treatment.Shewentbackonchemotherapybutsomehow
keptteachingthroughit.Everyfewweeks,she’dhaveto
reschedule Hunter’s lesson,and we had to explainthe
situationtoHunter,whowasjustthirteenatthetime.But
Peg always found a way to keep going.
Thenfortwostraightweeks,shepostponedthelessons.
That was when I got the call from Martin. He was