AQUEBOGUE, NY — Throughout the pandemic, Keri Lynn Stromski, a kindergarten teacher from Aquebogue, has faced challenges: Stromski is battling Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and has to adhere to strict social distancing protocols to stay safe.
One thing she's missed most of all is hugging, she said.
This week, Stromski got a surprise that touched her heart when one of her students and his parents brought her a homemade "hug machine," so that they could show her firsthand just how much she means to them.
Cathie Green, her husband Al, and their son Avery worked together to make the hug machine.
When she got to hug Avery, Stromski was overjoyed. "This is the best hug ever, in the whole, wide world!" she said.
"Mrs. Stromski is an amazing teacher and person," Cathie said. "She needs to be kept safe and has mentioned a few times how much she misses hugging people, so I made this so she could do it safely."
Cathie said she'd seen videos of people making similar devices so they could hug their grandparents, so she decided to craft a portable hug machine that Stromski could use for visitors.
The hug machine is made up of a clothing rack with a shower curtain, along with garbage bags taped into the holes, that people can put their arms through.
Smiles and tears marked the moment when Avery got to hug his favorite teacher.
"I also wanted to give Keri a big hug, she is a superwoman!" Cathie said. "The hug machine is really the least I could do for all Keri has done for our babies. She loves our children like they are her own — and in the tough times we are all struggling with right now, we all need a hug and some extra love."
Describing how she felt to receive such a caring gift, Stromski said: "It was heartwarming and overwhelming. Being a virtual teacher has been a blessing in that it has kept me safe and employed while going through chemo, as well as radiation. It's also an incredible amount of work. In Aquebogue we have a saying: We are a TEAM. 'Together Everyone Achieves More'."
Stromski, who schedules her treatments for the end of the day so that she can still teach, had to take a sick day this week, because of difficult side effects.
"I had a meeting with the families and was honest that no matter what happened with me, their children would be fine. My virtual partner is Kim Benkert and she has been amazing to work with. We make videos and share lessons and our students know us both. I called Dr. Lori
Koerner, who has been working with the virtual staff all year and she simply said, 'We've got you'. My families texted me and told me they loved me," she said.
Despite the challenges of teaching kindergartners in a pandemic, while also undergoing cancer treatments, Stromski has found ways to infuse the children's learning journey with joy.
"That's the thing with virtual," she said. "I'm a guest in their homes every day, and over the year we've become a family. I have little brothers and sisters sitting and listening and learning, grandmas dancing with me, moms and dads laughing, and daycare providers helping me."
But there are things that are irreplaceable, she said.
"The biggest thing Kim and I miss are the kids. The hugs. Seeing them in 'real life'. Having this hug machine dropped off meant everything. I'm so blessed."
Throughout the pandemic, Stromski has done all she could to keep the magic alive for her young students.
At Christmas, she had all of her students come to her house, to see a big display set up outside with a Santa, the Riverhead 'Blue Waves' theme, and a lighthouse. She and her virtual teaching partner had gifts for the children and also provided project bags so families could have treasured holiday kindergarten keepsakes.
"The hardest thing was the kids all ran up to hug me and their parents had to tell them to keep their distance. Now, if they come by, they get to use a cool 'hug machine' built by one of their friends," Stromski said. "It shows them how it doesn't matter how little you are, you can still make a big difference."
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March 15, 2021 at 06:47AM
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Kindergartner Makes Hug Machine For Teacher Battling Cancer - Patch.com
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