Ailing Lake Worth teacher gets a big assist
From a young age, Kizzy Norris has battled serious health issues.
She was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when she was teenager. She had a kidney transplant in 2009. Her new kidney ultimately failed, leaving Norris, now 37, weak, in pain and on daily dialysis. A teacher at Hidden Oaks Elementary on Military Trail, west of Lake Worth, the past 12 years, N o r r i s t a k e s a bout 40 pi l l s every day.
“It’s like second nature,” she said of popping medication like Tic Tacs.
On her bad days, which happen often, Norris can barely move. Or stop vomiting.
The discomfort in her abdomen almost leaves her in tears.
“The pain,” she said quietly, “is excruciating.”
Norris might as well change her address to JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, considering the amount of time she’s spent there the past several months.
Nor r i s , n a med a f t e r Ki z z y Reynolds, Kunta Kinte’s daughter played by Leslie Uggams in the 1977 miniseries, “Roots,” has been out of work on short-term disability since October.
S h e h a s ye t t o re c e ive h e r money, however. Meanwhile, Norris’ bills continue to mount.
A G o F u n d Me p a ge h e l p e d pay her $1,000 mortgage on her two-bedroom Greenacres townhome for October and November. December’s mortgage has yet to be paid.
Credit card companies are calling, all demanding payment.
“T h e y a c t l i ke t h e y ’ r e my friends, calling me by my first name,” Norris said, chuckling.
She borrowed close to $1,000 to pay her utility bills the past few months.
“It’s been extremely rough,” said Norris. “It’s not my personality to be late on stuff and it hurts.”
Norris, who is divorced and has no children, is often battling depression, mostly because she misses her students.
“It’s getting her down,” said her sister, Susan. “She wants to be with her babies.”
Hidden Oaks is doing what it can to help.
Today from 6 to 8 p.m., the school will host a “Care Concert” to help raise money for Norris.
Food trucks and vendors will be on hand. Music will be oldschool Motown, soul and rockn-roll. The school is asking for donations.
“She deserves it,” said Megan Snowman, a Hidden Oaks music teacher and one of the fundraiser’s organizers. “I feel bad for her. She needs financial help, but it will be nice for everyone to get together to show how much we love her.”
Norris said she’s honored — and humbled — her colleagues would take time to help.
“I’m used to doing things for other people, so it’s hard for me to be on the receiving end,” she said. “But words can’t express how much I appreciate it.”
Despite everything she’s been through, Norris is optimistic she’ll be back to work full time on Jan. 9, right after the winter break.
She said she’s getting stronger, but she’ll have to continue dialysis after work. The technician, Norris said, will come to her home every day at 6 p.m. for the three-hour treatment.
Nor r i s i s a l s o h o p e f u l h e r 25-year- old niece c an donate her kidney.
“She’s a match and we’re just waiting on medical clearance,” Norris said.