When a third-grade math teacher had all four limbs amputated, it was her students who taught her a lesson in moving forward.
After a blood infection led to gangrene in her arms and legs, Anne Mekalian lost all of her limbs and started a rigorous recovery process, wbaltv.com reports. But students of the beloved Baltimore teacher were so determined to get her back in the classroom that they immediately launched a fundraiser, which involved lemonade stands, an online fund and a video that is being turned into a documentary about Mekalian’s ordeal.
"It's just really heartwarming, if you think about it,” Mekalian told the news outlet. “This started out as a group of 8-year-olds, and how many 8-year-olds would have the idea to fundraise for a teacher?"
To date, the students have raised $13,358, according to the “Driving Mrs M” fundraising site. Their goal is to raise $52,000 so that the math teacher can afford to properly outfit her car and get back to work.
“When Mrs. Mekalian heard that we were planning a fundraiser for her, she surprised all of us by WALKING into our classroom to thank us,” her students wrote on the fundraising website about their teacher who is learning to use prosthetics. “She made such a difference in our lives and we now want to make a difference in hers.”
Feeling inspired? Learn how you can contribute to the Driving Mrs. M fund here.
Click through the slideshow below to learn more about Mekalian's story.
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