Counselor walks the extra mile with NFM student
John Saylor loves hunting, fishing, and living symbiotically with nature. His goal is to become a game warden or go to work for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The North Fort Myers High School student saw those dreams derailed when he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. But they are back on track, thanks to a support team that included not only a skilled surgeon and oncology care, but a school guidance counselor who helped Saylor catch up with his school work, graduate and resume his life goals.
Last Monday, during the State of Our Schools Breakfast at the Broadway Palm Theater, that working relationship between Laura Katkow and him was featured in Superintendent Gregory Adkins’ speech to illustrate how the Lee County School System strive to do right by its students.
Saylor’s health issues started during his freshman year. He started getting headaches which gradually became more severe, causing him to vomit at times.
His parents brought him to see a doctor, and after tests were done, it was discovered that Saylor had a brain tumor.
“It was going on for a while, I had really bad headaches and throwing up,” Saylor said. “It’s in remission, but I have to keep going back.”
Surgery removed the tumor, which was followed by more than six weeks of radiation therapy, causing him to miss nearly half his sophomore year.
Upon returning to school at the beginning of the last school year, Katkow, who had just come to North, came into his life through luck of the draw – counselors have their student assignments broken down according to the alphabet.
It proved to be the start of an amazing relationship.
“She took the time to get me back on my feet. She took her own personal time to help me get my GPA back up,” Saylor said.
“What I learned is that John had gone through the surgery for a tumor and the situation, and when I heard his story, I thought we weren’t doing enough for this man,” Katkow said. “I recognized he needed some services, so we put him in programs.”
Katkow took him under her wing and pushed him to be the best he could be in the classroom. Saylor said it made him feel important and it made him feel Katkow was less a counselor and more a friend.
They would talk about his progress, what help he needed, his goals and achievements almost daily. Katkow found the programs he needed in and out of school, for now and for years to come.
Each meeting would end with a hug. Saylor said he did that because he never knew what the next day would bring.
Katkow said such a relationship isn’t all that unusual, as counselors serve as parents outside of the home.
“I get more personal time with the students because I get to know them on a one-on-one basis. John was a little more unique,” Katkow said. “I’ve always had connections with my students but John was one of my last.”
Saylor would have to work harder than most and needed to advocate for himself to make sure he got the education that would service him in his situation.
In exchange, he would get support in his classes, teachers would recognize his need to have things repeated more often or an expanded explanation of directions. It would also take more focus on his part.
Katkow’s reward was getting to watch Saylor walk the aisle and get his diploma. She called it one of the most special times she’s had watching someone on the stage.
Principal Debbie Diggs handed him his diploma and said she couldn’t have been more proud.
“He has really stayed focused with the help of family and staff at the school. It was proud moment to hand him his diploma,” Diggs said. “When the district reached out for inspirational stories, he came to mind.”
Saylor still has a long road ahead. He is in remission but needs to go back for MRIs every six months to make sure the tumor hasn’t returned.
Saylor’s confident his journey is only beginning. He still wants to fulfill his dream of working for nature.
“I’m going to go to college and pursue to be a game warden. My dad has been taking me out into the woods since I was 6,” Saylor said. “I respect wildlife, and anything I kill, I eat. It’s not about sport.”
Katkow said she didn’t know at the time, but she was meant to come to North.
“I’ve been around the district for 20 years and North Fort Myers was my last stop, and there was a reason and his name is John Saylor,” Katkow said.