What if you spent years of your life dedicated to something you love? What if something came along that could threaten that?
Ms. Brooke Barfield, HHS English Language Arts teacher, recently learned that she would have to fight a battle while continuing to teach. Barfield was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Despite her battle, her presence continues to be felt in the classroom.
“It’s been interesting, to say the least,” Barfield shared. “I kept telling my doctor, ‘I’m just really tired and I don’t know what’s going on,’ so they found out I was anemic, and that’s how it all came about.”
As a result of her diagnosis, Barfield reflected on her previous experience with cancer.
“I had uterine cancer in 2021 and had to have a hysterectomy to treat it. I was shocked; I’d already had cancer once before, so to be 44 and to face it again was a scary experience.”
Barfield feels supported by her network at HHS, with many coworkers and friends offering their help throughout this difficult time.
“I have a very supportive network here at HHS. Everyone kept asking, ‘What can I do for you? How can I help?’ I felt very loved and appreciated by that. I told my drama students first, and that went really well—they were really supportive,” Barfield said. “A lot of the staff call and check in on me, like Ginger Steinhoff, who calls me every Monday when I have chemotherapy appointments, and my friend Maddison Puckett, who goes to every single appointment with me.”
This strong bond between Barfield and her students has only deepened over the years, with Puckett’s unwavering support standing as a testament to their strong connection.
“I’ve known Barfield since freshman year. She was my Communication Arts 1 teacher at the time,” Puckett said. “I’ve been in her class every year, one way or another. She made me want to learn more about English.”
This lasting impact on Puckett’s life highlights the significant role Barfield played in shaping her academic journey, not only that but a personal journey.
“We were just teacher and student for a long time throughout high school,” Puckett shared. “Now that I’ve graduated, she kind of took me in, and now we’re really close friends.”
Their relationship has evolved from teacher and student to something even more meaningful, with Puckett now seeing Barfield not just as an educator but as a close friend who has been there through thick and thin.
“It was very scary when she came to my school and told me,” Puckett said. “When you hear ‘stage 4 cancer,’ it’s very scary, and you automatically assume the worst. Barfield is such a good person, and I feel she deserves so much better, but I know she’s strong, and I know she’s going to fight it. I really believe in her.”
Junior Kelvin Jones is in Barfield’s Drama class and took her English class in his freshman year. He recalls his emotions when he learned of her diagnosis.
“I was very shocked. She told me in class,” Jones said. “I was upset. It really was surprising to hear that someone close to me was struggling. I kept feeling bad for her. I thought, ‘This poor, sweet woman,’ but I know she’s strong, and she can get through anything she puts her mind to.”
If there’s one thing we can all learn from Barfield’s journey, it’s her determination and dedication to overcoming this obstacle—traits that continue to inspire those around her.
“I have surgery next month,” Barfield said. “They’re going to remove the tumor from my colon and all the lymph nodes. Hopefully, that will send me into remission. But because of this, I’ll have to take chemotherapy for the rest of my life.”
