The Pittsburgh school board was there for our son

We love living in the city of Pittsburgh. Our six children graduated from the city public schools. Our children are on exciting paths of success as they are training for professional careers. We'd like to tell you about our youngest son, Randy. Here is the story.

At the beginning of our son's sophomore year at Brashear High School, Randy Gestrich was diagnosed with a rare saliva gland cancer. He went through an aggressive cancer treatment in which he received 100 times stronger radiation than a normal patient.

Randy went though unimaginable illness, feeding tubes, wheelchairs and seizures. It damaged every bone in his body, but at this moment he is cancer-free.

In high school, while other students were dealing with peer pressure and relationships, Randy was literally fighting for his life.

It seemed hopeless to get Randy back into high school. So we turned to the Board of Education for help. It provided the Homebound Program, which bent over backward to accommodate Randy's education.

Sometimes there is a gap between the life you planned and the life you have, but hope can get you around that hard bend.

We are proud to live in the city of Pittsburgh. We are thankful that our son had the privilege to be a part of the Pittsburgh Public Schools. When Randy walked up to the platform for his diploma, we were thankful that when he could not walk, the Pittsburgh school district carried him.

 

PASTOR MIKE and CAROL GESTRICH
Banksville