Students say emotional ‘hi' to recovering classmate, 13

At Swan Creek Metropark, Vincent Hill, left, and William Herrod, both eighth graders, show what Byrnedale students feel about the absence of their ‘awesome' friend. JETTA FRASER / TOLEDO BLADE Enlarge

Byrnedale Junior High students walked 0.4 miles from their school to Swan Creek Metropark to meet Ann Peltier, who is recovering from a benign brain tumor, and her family. JETTA FRASER / TOLEDO BLADE Enlarge

It's been like trying to run a marathon through a tar pit these last few months for Ann Peltier and her family, but Thursday it was more like a walk in the park.

More precisely, a walk at Swan Creek Metropark, where the 13-year-old was greeted with hugs and hellos from her Byrnedale Middle School classmates, many carrying “Stay Strong for Ann” signs.

In June, Ann underwent a several-hour surgery to remove a benign tumor on her brain stem. Initially, she couldn't walk or talk. She's made remarkable progress through hard work, but full recovery could be a year away.

During Byrnedale's Walk for Ann rally Thursday, as students described the teenager as an awesome friend, Ann blinked back emotion and nervously twisted a tissue into tiny fluffs of white.

Several students, cheeks streaked with tears, struggled with words, but their message came through loud and clear: We love you, we miss you. Hurry back.

Byrnedale's emotional outpouring of compassion was just the latest kindness bestowed on the family.

When the Peltiers were spending more time at the hospital rather than at home, their Harvard Terrace neighbors fed Moonshine, the family's cat. They mowed the grass, tended to flower beds, cooked casseroles, and built a wheelchair ramp for the Peltiers.

In addition, thousands of dollars have been raised to help offset expenses related to Ann's care, including nearly $1,200 by Byrnedale students who sold Stay Strong for Ann bracelets.

About 300 students who purchased the special bracelets walked Thursday morning with the check from their school to the nearby park where Ann and her parents, Joan and Joe Peltier, awaited their arrival.

Ann, who says she likes glittery things, was wearing a purple-and-white Byrnedale School spirit sweatshirt, khaki pants, and black tennis shoes. Her shoes as well as her headband sparkled with glitter, but it was Ann's smile that flashed bright.

She waved “Hi,” as soon as she caught a glimpse of the banner-carrying students and the fuzzy Bulldog school mascot.

Jessica Hayton choked back sobs, finding it difficult to say all the things she wanted to say about Ann, a treasured friend since kindergarten. But Jessica and others are staying strong for Ann, and they are drawing strength from Ann as each day is cause for celebration.

It was last December when Ann mentioned that she was getting really bad headaches when she bent over, such as to pick up decorations to place on the family's Christmas tree.

Ann, who has a passion for holiday decorating, didn't seem much interested in putting up the tree, her mother recalled.

“She kept saying, ‘Can we be done, can we be done?' and she kept sitting down. That was very uncharacteristic of her,” Mrs. Peltier said.

When headaches persisted, a pediatrician placed Ann on medication. “She was 12, and 12-year-olds get headaches,” Mrs. Peltier said. But Ann, never one to be a complainer, later complained about getting “slamming headaches.”

The details. It's the details they remember, benchmarks of the trudge through the tar pit.

“It was June 24. It was a Thursday. The night before we had been out at a little garden we have with some friends. We had been planting, weeding, and stuff. Ann was sitting on a blanket and threw up. I thought she was dehydrated, that she was too hot. We went home and I told her when she gets up tomorrow, to drink as much water as possible.”

That morning, Ann had an early orthodontist appointment to get fitted for braces, and as Mrs. Peltier made scrambled eggs, Ann “got up, ran to the kitchen sink and threw up.”

Mrs. Peltier decided to take Ann to the emergency room.

“We went to Toledo Hospital. I remember it was 7:40 when we got there. By 10 a.m., Ann was in the pediatric ICU.”

First report: Ann had some swelling on her brain.

Then, Mrs. Peltier noticed the way people were looking at them. “I figured it was something really bad.”

The next morning, Ann underwent surgery, Mrs. Peltier said.

She and her husband immediately took family medical leave; Mr. Peltier has since returned to work.

Ann likely won't return to the classroom this school year; she is being home-schooled. “Everybody has been so awesome,” Mrs. Peltier said. “Byrnedale, everyone there, has been fabulous, really, really great.” And her husband agreed.

“Everything everyone has done — it speaks volumes about people in this area,” Mr. Peltier said, shortly before he knelt to talk to Ann after the crowd thinned to a few people.

Father and daughter talked about after-school plans, then he said he had to get back to work.

Mr. Peltier leaned in close for a hug. He reached up, brushing back a wisp of Ann's hair, tousled by the morning breeze.

They shared a smile, they shared their hearts.

“See ya,” he said with tears in his voice.

Ann nodded, staying strong.

Yep, Dad. “See ya.”

Contact Janet Romaker at:jromaker@theblade.com or 419-724-6006.