Hi, Ellen.
[APPLAUSE]
Hi, Kelly.
First of all, what an incredible teacher you are.
I wish I was meeting you under different circumstances.
Tell everybody how you found out about this diagnosis.
So five years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian
cancer.
And on my five year anniversary, which
was supposed to be good news, I found out
that I had cancer again.
And we were really hoping it was going
to be a different kind of cancer than ovarian,
because we thought we could zap it with chemo and move on.
But unfortunately, the ovarian cancer has returned.
And I asked my oncologist what the prognosis
was thinking she was going to say, you're in good hands,
we've got this.
And she said, I have 10 to 15 years.
And it's been devastating to my family.
And I try and make every day that I have special.
Yeah, oh, man.
And you just decide to keep teaching after you found out.
You just said, I'm going to keep teaching.
I did.
I had to take a leave the first time I had cancer,
because I was so filled with tumors and so sick,
and I missed teaching.
It's like, the love of my life.
And so I begged my principal, please don't make me
take a leave this time.
Please don't make me take a leave.
And luckily, my district granted me
the distance learning position for kindergarten at my school.
And I thought, I can do this.
I go to the hospital and it's a depressing place.
And people are sleeping, and they have headphones on,
and they're sick, and I just thought,
I want to make the most of my time while I'm there.
And what better way to spend four to five hours than
with five-year-olds.
How do you have the energy?
That must zap you of energy.
And you're teaching 20 kindergartners.
I mean, how do you have that energy?
Well, it's really funny.
I get a chemo high.
I am like woo on chemo days.
And I had it the first time I had cancer.
And now I have it again.
And I don't know if it's the steroids
they give me or the medicine.
But Ellen, I'm like ready to party when I'm at the hospital.
So I schlep all my teacher bags, my science experiments, my math
lessons, my literacy lessons, and I line them all up
on this windowsill.
And there's just no better way to pass
the time in such a depressing environment
than to be with kids.
And I take my antinausea medicines
every night and every morning.
And gosh, when I log on with my class when I'm there,
it's the best medicine for me, just I forget everything.
I forget that I have cancer when I see those smiling faces.
That's beautiful.
[APPLAUSE]
That's beautiful.
Do the kids ask questions about being at the hospital?
Oh, yeah.
They say, Mrs. Klein, are you at the doctor's house?
And we laugh about it.
And I say, yes.
Because when they log on and they
see me with my mask, and nurses behind me, and IVs everywhere,
they know I'm at the doctor's house getting medicine
to make me feel better.
And my parents and families have been so supportive
100% behind me, and the Falcon Heights community
has wrapped their arms around me.
And we're both doing each other a favor.
The kids are helping me as much as I'm helping them.
How did you decide you wanted to become a teacher?
Oh, gosh.
I have always loved kids.
When I was little, I volunteered at a park.
And I just knew I wanted to be a teacher
from the very beginning.
And I just wanted to be that teacher for someone
and make a difference in children's lives.
And through all of this, the word
has spread in our community that I have cancer,
Ellen, I'm hearing from kids that I had 20,
30 years ago that are telling me I was that teacher for them.
You never know because you lose contact with them.
So you never know if you're that teacher
and I'm finding out that I've made a difference.
[APPLAUSE]
Well, I mean, obviously, you're a very special woman,
so of course, you're that teacher.
Kelly, we have something for you.
We're going to take a break, and we'll be back after this, OK?
And since you've been teaching for over 30 years,
we thought we would try to track down
some current and former students to see if they had anything
they wanted to say to you.
And it turns out they had a lot to say.
Take a look.
[MUSIC PLAYING] Dance with me and the diamonds.
I think Ms. Klein is a once in a lifetime teacher.
She really impacted my life.
Kelly Klein is that teacher.
She is the kind of teacher you accidentally call mom.
She's perfect for a kindergarten teacher.
The most patient, graceful teacher.
She was elementary school for me.
Because of Mrs. Klein, I know a lot.
[MUSIC PLAYING] --without me.
What I remember about Kelly when she
was my teacher is she was full of energy,
just made you want to come to school.
I was fortunate to have Kelly for my second, third,
and fourth grade years here at Falcon.
And she remains that special person, that memory
of elementary school for me.
[MUSIC PLAYING] You--
She means a lot.
Mrs. Klein means a lot.
Once you meet her, you recognize her kindness.
Mrs. Klein makes me smile.
I love when she says, "Good morning, lucky ducks!"
Mrs. Klein gives the best, biggest bear hugs.
And when we say funny hellos, she giggles a lot.
Her passion shines through everything that she does.
Mrs. Klein is the type of teacher you want to be like
and you want to be optimistic like her.
I'm studying to be an elementary school teacher just because
of teachers like Mrs. Klein.
Not only did I Mrs. Klein, but all three of my kids
attend Falcon and had her as their kindergarten teacher.
She's the one that they can still think about
as their favorite teacher.
She was one of the best teachers I ever had.
She made me the person I am today.
She has spoken into so many kids for so many years.
Your kindergarten experience helps shapes your trajectory.
Thank you.
Stay strong.
We're sending lots of love.
Thank you, Mrs. Klein.
We love you, Mrs. Klein.
Thank you, Mrs. Klein.
I love you.
Thank you, Mrs. Klein, and then give me the biggest smile.
Thank you, Mrs. Klein.
Big smile.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
Well, that's got to make you feel good.
[APPLAUSE]
I mean, talk about making the most of your life.
I mean, you are making a difference
in so many people's lives, which is all I think any of us
want to do while we're here.
Before we go, we heard you have a bucket list.
And I wanted to check off a few things.
So first, I know your family loves to surf,
and you want to take a vacation together
when the pandemic is over.
So our friends at Shutterfly want
to help you create those memories.
So they're going to give you $10,000
to take a dream vacation wherever you want to go.
[APPLAUSE]
Oh, my gosh.
And one more thing, Kelly.
We know you have a medical debt that you want to pay off,
so Shutterfly wants to wipe your debt free with another $10,000,
so that's $20,000 from Shutterfly.
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING]
Oh, my gosh, Ellen.
I can't believe it.
I'm speechless, and that never happens.
[LAUGHTER]
You're a wonderful woman.
Thank you for what you do.
And I mean, I love teachers, but we all love teachers here,
but you're a special one.
Thank you so much, Kelly.
Well, thank you, Ellen.
Can I give you a cheer?
We do cheers in my classroom.
Can I give you one?
Yes, please.
Ellen, you are looking good.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
Well, thanks.
Hi, I'm Andy.
Ellen asked me to remind you to subscribe to her channel,
so you can see more awesome videos, like videos
of me getting scared or saying embarrassing things,
like ball peen hammer.
And also some videos of Ellen and other celebrities,
if you're into that sort of thing.
[SCREAMS]
[BLEEP]
God [BLEEP].