Berlin Elementary teacher makes slow but painful progress
By Robin Hauenstein
November 21, 2010
286
When the 2010-11 school year began, things were going great for Megan and Mike Mullet. Married a little over a year, the couple bought their first house in Kidron and moved during the first week of school. Megan was working her first year as a Title One teacher at Berlin Elementary, and Mike worked as a special education tutor for Orrville City Schools. On the morning of Sept. 16, everything changed for the young couple.
Megan, 24, was on her way to school when the car she was driving was T-boned by another vehicle at the intersection of Kidron and Harrison Roads. She suffered extensive injuries, and was transported to Aultman Hospital in Canton, where she would have her spleen removed, tests revealed three fractures to her pelvis and significant nerve damage.
As a new teacher in the East Holmes district, Megan Mullet had no sick days accrued and had just begun her health insurance plan. However, East Holmes administration and teachers have made her long recovery a bit easier.
Theyve been amazing. They worked it out so I can keep my insurance people donated sick days for me, Megan said. The administration also transferred some of the sick days shed accrued as a long-term sub at Rittman.
Healing has been a slow process. Because of the severity and complexity of her fractures, Megan has a long road of rehab ahead. Two of her fractures are almost healed, but one fracture has yet to begin the mending process. Off work since the accident, Megan plans to return to Berlin Elementary after Christmas break, but she will not be without walking assistance. Right now, she has to use a walker to get around, and that has cut into her mobility as well as ability to do much of anything.
While she cant move around to all levels of the house, Megan said she can get around. Everything is on the first floor, thankfully. Mike said. She can get around the first floor pretty well.
Mike Mullet, not only working his full-time job at Orrville, had to also became a caregiver for his young wife. When asked how the past two months have been,without hesitation, he said, tiring. However, Mike added, its made our relationship stronger. Its been difficultsleepless nights and doctor visits. Megans progress is good, but slow. She cant carry anything, and shes just starting to dress herself.
The couple received lots of support from their church, Martins Creek Mennonite, and Mike said, Weve had plenty of visitors who have stopped by and that helped keep her mind off the pain. We appreciate all the prayers and good thoughts. People drive up from Holmes County just to see us. Mike said so many have volunteered to make life a little easier. Everyone has been fantastic. Weve had meals nearly every day.
The parents of the couple, Tom and Sharon Mullet and Jerry and Michele Speicher, also have spent a lot of time caregiving, as have their siblings. However, for the Speicher family, the burden and grief have been doubled. During this same time, Micheles mother, Doris Fahrni of Massillon, was sick. Doris Fahrni died, Nov. 1.
Megan Mullet is a graduate of Tuslaw High School and the University of Akron. She spent many years of her youth involved in Girl Scouts and gymnastics. For the past six years, she has been a gymnastics coach at the Dalton YMCA. On Saturday, Nov. 20, the gymnastics program showed its appreciation for her by holding a benefit breakfast to help offset mounting medical expenses. It was a time for her to also catch up with many of her students who havent seen her for a while, and for the Mullet and Speicher families, a chance to sit back and catch their breath following a draining two-month period.
Watching her daughter talk to some of her young gymnastics pupils, a tearful Michele Speicher said, she loves those kids. Thats the main thing.
Hopefully, by the start of 2011, Megan Mullet will be able to show that same love in the Berlin Elementary classrooms.
