5500 Aspen Creek Dr
Broomfield, CO 80020
Office: 720-887-4537
Attendance: 303-447-5558

School Hours:
Middle Level: 8:40-3:30
Elementary: 8:45-3:23

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5/21/08, 5/16/08, 5/17/08, 5/14/08, 5/6/08, 5/3/08, 4/21/08, 4/17/08, 4/15/08, 4/2/08, 4/1/08, 3/20/08, 3/3/08, 2/20/08, 1/15/08, 12/19/07, 12/4/07, 11/7/07, 10/24/07, 10/12/07, 10/11/07, 10/4/07, 9/28/07, 9/19/07

Dear Aspen Creek families,
As you may or may not have heard, Mr. Romero, sixth grade Science teacher, has been recently diagnosed with lung cancer and has begun a regimen of chemotherapy. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he embarks on this journey.  Mr. Romero plans on fulfilling his commitment to his sixth grade students and being here in the learning community as much as possible.  This is a man with an amazing spirit and drive.  Each student that he comes in contact with, is not only benefiting from what he has to offer as a teacher, but is in turn providing him with energy, inspiration, and encouragement.

We are in the process of setting up a link on our Aspen Creek website so that parents, students and staff will have access to updated information on how Mr. Romero is progressing.  Providing the information in this way will be an energy saver for Mr. Romero as many people in our community care about him and his well being.  This will then free him up to focus on teaching rather than his illness while he is here in the building.

As a school community we are working to help both Mike and his family in a variety of ways.  If you would like to join us in one such effort, please know that we are setting up a support account for medical expenses through the Boulder Valley Credit Union (branches in both Boulder and Louisville) or through TCF Bank in Lafayette.  Contact information and details will be listed soon on the Aspen Creek Website if you would like to help.
Sincerely,
Aspen Creek Staff

A personal message from Mr. Romero:
I just want to communicate my thanks to the community, fellow staff members, students and parents for the outpouring of kind thoughts and prayers during the first stage of this battle.  I have an extremely positive attitude and am feeling very encouraged.  As I wade through this experience with my family, I want you all to know that the kids are in good hands.  I will be in the building teaching as much as my health allows and have established a working relationship with Mr. Nick Schrag, former Aspen Creek 6th grade Science teacher, who will step in as needed.
Thank you,
Mike Romero

9/19/07
Mr. Romero’s Aspen Creek colleagues got together and secretly purchased him one of the slick new video ipods!  They subsequently loaded it with all sorts of tunes and a western movie or two so that it was charged, loaded and ready to go prior to his first chemotherapy treatment.  It was delivered to him at his home as a surprise.  Mr. Romero has had a fabulous time getting to know how to work this tiny machine and says that it has been a blessing to have.  The iPod was engraved; “We love you Mike! Your Aspen Creek family”

9/28/07
Aspen Creek Staff have collected more than enough money to cover the cost of the iPod for Mr. Romero.  Aspen Creek will soon be setting up a bank account in which to place the money overflow and deposit additional funds collected to help defray the Romero family’s current and upcoming medical expenses

10/4/07
Mr. Romero’s friends have obtained a recliner chair for him so that when he is resting at home or having trouble lying down or sleeping  in a bed he has an alternative.  This has been extremely helpful.  As of late, he has had a number of nights where he has been able to sleep straight through in his own bed and feel well rested in the mornings.

10/11/07
Mr. Romero will have his second chemotherapy treatment today.  He has again shaved his head so that he stays ahead of the hair loss.  Mr. Romero is anxious to get this next treatment over with as he has his sights set on going on Cal Wood trip number three! 

10/12/07
A bank account is being set up for Mr. Romero at TCF Bank in Lafayette.  It will be designated as the Mike Romero Trust.  Mike and his family will be able to readily access this account to help defray the cost of medical expenses.  Donations at this time are being taken by Robin Sackmann, counselor at Aspen Creek.  Checks may be made out to the Mike Romero Trust.  Either of the secretaries at the front desk can accept donations and get them to Robin, should she be out of the building or unavailable.  Once the account has been established at the bank in Lafayette donations/ deposits may be made there as well.  In the meantime, current funds will be kept in the safe here at Aspen Creek.  The account will be set up by Friday October 19th.  TCF Bank is located at 320 US Highway 287 in Lafayette, Colorado.  The number for the branch is 303-604-6117.

10/24/07
Mr. Romero has not only recently completed his second round of chemotherapy but also has spent 6 fabulous days up in the mountains helping coordinate outdoor education experiences for our 6th graders!!!  He is feeling both inspired and energized.

For folks wanting to help in some way, we have decided that a fund from which the Romero family may withdraw money for whatever their needs might be would not only be helpful to them but allow each of us to feel as if we have contributed to his continued progress.

A savings account has been set up at TCF Bank in Lafayette on the corner of Highway 287 and Baseline Road.  Contributions may be made directly at the bank ( please reference the Mike Romero/Robin Sackmann account) or may be dropped off or sent to Aspen Creek in care of Robin Sackmann, one of Aspen Creek’s counselors.  Checks may be made out to Robin Sackmann and should reference the Mike Romero fund in the memo section.  If you drop donations off directly at the school, please hand them directly to one of the secretaries in our main office. Medical expenses are quickly piling up and Mike and his family will be accessing this fund as early as the end of this week.  Many thanks to all who have already contributed, called and stopped by, and sent positive thoughts and prayers his way.  Mike’s spirits are high and he looks fabulous with his “new look”!

11/7/07
Chemotherapy treatment number three has now come and gone and Mr. Romero’s spirit and drive continues to amaze us.  A recent hat day fundraiser in honor of Mr. Romero was a huge success! On November 2nd, with any type of donation, students and staff in Kindergarten through eighth grade were able to have the privilege of wearing their favorite hats to school. Over $1200.00 was raised in this student council sponsored event and has since been deposited in the Mike Romero fund.  The gentle and giving spirit exhibited by the students here at Aspen Creek is and has been a remarkable thing to behold.  Thanks to the ongoing generosity of staff, students and the Aspen Creek community the fund has now reached close to $3000. 

12/04/07
Mr. Romero has only two more chemotherapy treatments to go!  After he has completed these, physicians will re-evaluate the other medications that he is currently on and determine whether or not to then begin a series of radiation treatments.  Just recently, Mr. Romero began participating in physical therapy sessions in an effort to regain some strength, balance and energy.  He is excited about the prospect of ongoing physical therapy and exercise sessions as he is beginning to feel the cumulative effects of the fatigue that comes with chemotherapy.  His work here at Aspen Creek continues to be a source of strength and positive energy for Mr. Romero as he is, of course, a source of both for us.

12/19/07
Mr. Romero will be having his final chemo of this series over the winter break.  He is really ready to move forward as each treatment has left him weaker and the side effects last much longer as the medicine has built up. A recent pet-scan showed that the tumors have not grown, which is good, but have not (with the exception of those in his thyroid) shrunk either, Once this series of chemotherapy is over the plan is to do some radiation on his lungs and continue with the medicine that blocks the blood supply to the cancer cell.

Another “hat day for Mr. Romero is being sponsored by the 6th grade team on Friday December 21st.  Students may bring and wear a hat for a monetary donation.  All proceeds again will be deposited into a fund at TCF Bank that has been established to help the family defray medical costs.  If a donation is in the form of a check, it can be made out to Robin Sackmann with “The Mike Romero Fund” indicated in the memo section.

Some friends of Mike’s have recently begun a campaign to send in an application and nominate the Romero family for Extreme Makeover, Home Edition on ABC.

They are collecting letters from anybody willing to add to this application. If you have a minute, please write a letter about Mike and his wife Geralyn with regard to what special people they are and how deserving they are of this makeover.  If you have specific stories about them/him, or a certain moment where they/he impacted your life in any way, please write about that as well!

Email your letter(s) to:
TheBlondos@yahoo.com
by Sunday, December 23rd!!!!

1/15/08
Mr. Romero completed his final chemo treatment in the series on January 2nd.  He is excited about feeling better for longer periods of time and is hopeful that the neuropathy that has developed in his hands and feet will begin to subside as the high levels of chemo begin to leave his body.  He will now begin a regimen of radiation treatment in hopes of further stalling and shrinking some of the cancerous growth.  Just prior to Winter Break, the sixth grade team sponsored another “hat day” in Mike’s honor, which resulted in raising a grand total of $1331.10 that has since been deposited into “the Mike Romero Fund”.  Thanks to all of you for your continued support.

2/20/08
Coming up for Mr. Romero will undergo a cyber knife procedure to remove two tumors in the back of his neck.  Radiation treatments will also begin soon.  The Mike Romero account has recently received some unexpected new donations which have been quite exciting and the Romero family continues to be enormously grateful.  Even more exciting, however, is the new “growth” on the top of Mr. Romero’s head!!! In the past week or two, eyebrows and the hair on his head have started to sprout! We’ll see how long it takes to get it back into a pony tail.

3/3/08
Mr. Romero has now sprouted a mustache as well!  He has completed the cyber knife procedure and a round of radiation.  The cyber knife actually caused him quite a bit of delayed pain in his neck, but that is now subsiding.  March 10th is a big day for Mike as that is when his next PET scan is scheduled.  Please cross your fingers and send positive energy, thoughts and prayers his way.  We are all hopeful that this next scan shows marked improvement.

3/20/08
Thanks to everyone for their continued concern and kind thoughts for Mr. Romero.  The results of his recent PET scan were not as hoped and unfortunately it appears that he has additional challenges ahead.  Mike and his family will use the time over Spring Break to relax and think about next steps. As always please keep him in your prayers.

4/1/08
We are excited to announce that every Friday, for the rest of the school year, will be Hat Day! Students may bring in a $1.00 (or more) donation to "The Mike Romero Fund" and wear hats on Fridays.

4/2/08
Having had a week off for Spring Break and time to consult with his doctors, Mr. Romero has been able to make plans for next steps.  His cancer is now in his lymphatic system and he is struggling more with truly being able to get quality rest and manage his pain.  Next week he will begin participation in an experimental treatment group which will involve weekly chemotherapy. The drugs are infused with vitamin B and this chemo should not make him feel as miserable as previous rounds. The hope is that this particular treatment will slow the cancer’s progression and give Mike more time to spend with family and friends doing the things that he loves.  Live Strong is truly his motto.  As always, please keep Mr. Romero in your thoughts and prayers, and feel free to stop by, wear a hat and make a donation to the Mike Romero fund on any Friday here at Aspen Creek!

4/15/08
Mr. Romero continues to struggle with increased fatigue and some pain and has missed a bit more work as of late because of this. One thing that has really lifted his spirits is the opportunity to wear a hat on Fridays and all of those that turn out to show their support by wearing one too.  Our last two hat days in honor of Mike raised $1504.05!!!!!  The chemotherapy sessions with the infusion of vitamin B have yet to begin, but once those are scheduled, Mr. Romero hopes to regain a bit more energy.  It’s Hat day again this and every Friday! Please continue to bestow your blessings upon Mr. Romero whether that comes in the form of a kind word, a smile, a fabulous class project, a good cup of coffee, wearing a hat, a passion for learning something new in Science, or a silent prayer.  It is all very much appreciated.

4/17/08
Most recently Mr. Romero has needed to take some extended time away from school in a continued attempt to manage pain and fatigue and rest and regain some energy.  During this time, some tests and scans were performed and the results were not as hoped.  His cancer has now spread to his brain because of this he will need to explore other options than the experimental chemotherapy and infusion of vitamin B. Tomorrow he has some other tests and scans to give them a better sense of what kind of treatments might be avaliable. Although he will be absent on this fourth hat day tomorrow we will wear our hats in support of him.  Mr. Nick Schrag has been the substitute for Mike and will continue to be in class on the days when coverage is needed. The consistency this offers Mr. Romero, his fellow staff members and students has been a gift.

4/21/08
Things have moved quickly since they have discovered signs of cancer in Mr. Romero’s brain.  He has already undergone his first radiation treatment and will continue to do so five days a week for the next three weeks. Until he has a handle on the level of fatigue and other side effects this current treatment may bring, he will not be here at school, but instead resting and recovering at home. With all of the tests and time spent in confined spaces, Mike is especially happy when he can sit in the sun near an open window. Once he’s completed a good portion of the radiation, his doctors will reevaluate and decide if he is able to then undergo the experimental treatment that he was hoping for. Both Mike and his family are hopeful about the prospect of still having that treatment as an option. Our most recent hat day raised $572.85.  The continued generosity of our Aspen Creek community has really helped to alleviate the ongoing financial burden that comes with so many medical bills.  The Romero family is ever grateful.

5/3/08
Mike has now finished two of the three weeks of radiation treatment.  He is truly struggling with fatigue, but is looking forward to the end of this particular treatment next week and starting in on some experimental chemo following that.  Recently, he had some significant issues with pain management that resulted in a brief hospital stay, but is now at home with new pain medication that appears to be helping.  Due to his great fatigue and lack of energy, Mike has also experienced a lack of appetite and subsequent weight loss as of late.  He’s working to drink “ensure” and protein shakes that his daughter makes to try to maintain some weight.  He continues to hope for a return to school if even for a brief visit prior to the end of the year.  He is really missing the kids.

Last Thursday’s hat day raised $372.35 and this Friday’s hat day looks to have brought in $602.64 more!  A lemonade stand operated in Mr. Romero’s honor by four sixth grade students over the long weekend brought in another $47.33.  This coming weekend staff members from Aspen Creek are getting together to clean, trim, plant and take care of maintenance in the Romero front and back yards. The spirit of compassion and giving is often overwhelming to Mike, but he says he’s not surprised – he’s well aware of how much our community cares for him and for that we are grateful.

5/6/08
Although extreme fatigue, pain, loss of weight and muscle tone continues to be a challenge, the past few weeks have been extremely uplifting for Mr. Romero.  With the last two hat days taking in a grand total of $974.99, a lemonade stand held by four of his sixth grade students, a mini extreme yard makeover, the approved extension of his use of the BVSD sick bank, the end of his radiation treatment in the near future (Thursday), and his daughter Gabby’s graduation from CU this Friday, his spirits are high.  A group of his Aspen Creek colleagues got together over the weekend and completely revamped, revived, and revitalized Mr. Romero’s front and back yards. Mike came out several times to admire the landscaping and got a good laugh out of some of us trying to haul and lift rocks and sod.  He’s walking with a cane now as the radiation to the brain has affected his balance.  We have high hopes that the ability to sit outside, read the paper and enjoy the beauty of his yards and patios will bring Mr. Romero added peace and remind him how very much we care about him.  Watch for news of a silent auction spearheaded by the Aspen Creek PTA being held in Mike’s honor later this month.  Middle level advisory classes are all putting together themed gift baskets to contribute to this cause and all proceeds will go towards the Mike Romero fund. 

5/14/08
The last hat day raised $1485.64! 

Upcoming events to assist the Romero family include; a night (5/14) at Senor T in Louisville  from 4pm to 9pm…where  they will donate 15 percent of their earnings that evening towards the Romero fund, and a Sweets and Treats benefit at Aspen Creek  where folks can bid on fabulous gift baskets. Bidding begins on May 19th and ends on May 22nd at a culminating event that will include enjoy free treats, participate in a cake walk and buy sno cones and cotton candy!  Come and enjoy this fun at Aspen Creek on Thursday May 22nd from 4:30 to 5:00. 

Mike has a CAT scan on Thursday to determine next steps.  It is his hope that the scan and some newfound strength will allow him to proceed with the experimental chemotherapy.  He is now regaining a bit of that strength as his radiation treatment is over –a recent sign of this is that he and his wife Geralyn and took a drive up to Blackhawk last night!   

5/16/08 – The Romero family has informed us that Mike’s cancer battle is becoming especially brutal. He will not be moving forward with the experimental chemotherapy as his body and system are just too weak. He is struggling with dehydration and his organs are threatening to shut down.  We are hopeful that he is able to attend the dedication ceremony for Romero Park in Lafayette. This designated park area on the corner of Cleveland and South Bermont will be officially named this Saturday in honor of both Mike and his contributions to the community and his son Aaron who gave his life serving our country in the war in Afghanistan.  Moments like these are ever precious.  Today’s hat day raised a grand total of $830.47.

5/17/08 – Mike and family were in attendance at the park dedication ceremony where the VFW held a flag ceremony and many friends, relatives and community members were able to offer tribute and kind words about Mike and his son Aaron.  It was especially moving that Mike was able to muster the strength to be there.  Later that evening a rosary was held at the Romero home.  Close family and friends stopped by to bestow blessings upon Mike. We are all grateful that Hospice care is involved and available to assist both Mike and his family with this stage of his journey.

5/21/08 – Two of Mr. Romero’s brothers and his mother have traveled to be with him this past week.  He is busy bantering back and forth with them and arguing about who looks more like their father. He states that “he’s not a fighter but a negotiator” and that is how he is dealing with this stage of his cancer battle.  The past few days have been quite a roller coaster as he has experienced moments of great pain and struggle as well as those where he is able to laugh and hug and enjoy precious time with others.  He and his family draw strength from one another and all those that are thinking of them.