Just this year, Wenatchee High School hired a brand new math teacher to fill an empty position. Just one month after the beginning of the school year, this new teacher had to undergo emergency open heart surgery.

Dustin Johnson and his wife Amy, a kindergarten teacher in the Eastmont School District, just moved to Wenatchee from Montana. Because the Johnson’s recently moved to a new school district, their sick leave did not transfer from their previous schools. Usually, this wouldn’t be that big of an issue, but on Oct. 3, Johnson had to undertake an emergency open heart surgery.

Just a couple weeks ago, Johnson went into the doctor to be treated for pneumonia. At this time, the doctor asked if he had any heart abnormalities. During the next visit, the doctor said they had found an aneurism forming, and that open heart surgery would be imperative to get rid of the aneurism, and also to replace the aortic valve within the heart.

“He’s supposed to come home today [Oct. 8], and we’re so thankful for the medical staff for paying attention and catching this,” Amy Johnson said.

In the Wenatchee School District, it takes some time to acquire enough sick leave to be able to accommodate for a major surgery like open heart surgery. Because Johnson recently moved to the Wenatchee School District, he does not have enough sick leave built up for the amount of recovery time required. To help out the Johnson family, the Wenatchee Education Association (WenEA) Executive Board has approved donating sick leave to help Johnson’s cause.

Teachers are being asked to consider donating their sick leave to Johnson to insure he has enough recovery time. Teachers with more than 60 days of sick leave banked can donate one to 10 days to another teacher. For more information, contact the WenEA President Kris Cameron.

“He’s a wonderful person, and I just feel really bad for him. The kids love him,” English teacher Michelle Smith said.