In the summer of 2024, Diona Swinney, an 11th-grade advanced algebra teacher at Pebblebrook High School, received a breast cancer diagnosis while celebrating her granddaughter’s birthday at Disney World.
“To be honest, I just wanted to live. When you hear ‘cancer,’ you think it’s almost like a death sentence,” Swinney said.
During her treatment, Swinney was unable to teach during the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year but maintained a connection with her students through a video message and custom-made wristbands with encouraging messages.
“If I couldn’t give them anything else, I wanted to give them a little encouragement to let them know that they’re going to be OK and this isn’t the end,” she said.
Swinney expressed concerns about exhausting her time off work, but Cobb Schools and Pebblebrook leadership assured her that her position would be available upon her return. She stated that this support gave her “peace of mind” and allowed her to focus on recovery.
After winter break, Swinney returned to teaching in remission. She described the emotional experience of meeting students who visited her classroom just to check on her and express their gratitude.
“I never met my kids that semester, but many of those kids came to my room just to see me and to thank me and to make sure I was ok, and that all meant a lot to me,” Swinney revealed.
Although she continues to face side effects from chemotherapy and cancer treatment, Swinney has resumed teaching full-time, scheduling medical appointments outside school hours. She noted the ongoing support from colleagues who have offered assistance when needed but emphasized her commitment to spending time with students.
“The kids give me light, teaching gives me light,” Swinney declared.
Swinney still observes students wearing the wristbands she distributed during her absence, which she says brings joy as well as an opportunity for deeper connections with students affected by breast cancer in their own families.
“One of my students I had not seen, and she came to check on me- this brought me to tears. She said I came to check on you, and my mother passed away from breast cancer. So, when I say it’s very touching, it’s something I never forget. I’ve got my pink on now, I wear my pink every day,” said Swinney.
Breast cancer remains a significant health issue in the United States; data from the American Cancer Society indicates that one in eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.
