By Aida Rivera

March 6, 7:57 pm, I received an email forwarded by the FBI regarding a missing teenager, Cayman, a 13- year old student of a Private School next town. The photo in the flyer is that of a seemingly innocent, happy teenager. At this point nothing has been out in the news and many thoughts came through my mind about the why, what and how. When the news broke the following morning, the father stated that “he was upset about a school work”.  Few days later his body was found near a creek few yards away from his home.

This reminds me of a story I read on FB. The story is about a certain Teddy Stoddard, a little boy who inspired his teacher, Mrs. Thompson, through the years. The FB posting was very compelling. It showed a photo of a classroom with a caption “must read”.

The story goes, it is about a fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Thompson, who noticed a kid on the first day of class, unkempt, clothes messy and seemed needing a bath. His name is Teddy Stoddard. She has seen Teddy the year before, she noticed how he didn’t play well with other children, he was unpleasant and his school work was almost always failing.

As a school requirement, Mrs. Thompson has to review prior records of her students.  She decided to review Teddy’s last. To her surprise, Teddy did exceptionally well on the first and second grade. His first grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners…he is a joy to be around.”

His second grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.”

His third grade teacher wrote, “His mother’s death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn’t show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren’t taken.”

Teddy’s fourth grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school. He doesn’t have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class.

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy’s. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children’s laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, “Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.” After the children left, she cried for at least an hour.

On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her “teacher’s pets.”

A year later she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Six years went by before she got another letter from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he’d stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in  his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor’s degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer…The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear. “Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, “Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn’t know how to teach until I met you.

This fictional piece was written in 1976 by Elizabeth Silance Ballard now Elizabeth S Ungar and was printed in Home Life magazine, a Baptist family publication, where it was clearly labeled as fiction.

Teddy’s story has been circulated across America over the years. In Colorado in 1998, copies were sent to every teacher. Some even include it in their speeches.

True or not, the story that taught Ms Thompson a lesson of a lifetime, must be a read for all of us who deal with children at home, at work or in the community at large. Children are unique and have their own way of dealing with life situations. In his book, “Help Me, I am sad”, a colleague Child Psychiatrist, David Fassler, MD explains with wisdom and empathy how parents can play a vital role in helping a child overcome, and even prevent, depression. Yes, children too, suffer from depression which present in various and unusual ways. As caretakers and educators, we should be adept to catch the first sign. Signs that should not be taken for granted. Like any other medical conditions, early detection and intervention is the key.  I did my Residency in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry before my Adult training, and by force of habit I would question upbringing of all presented cases on morning rounds. I remember vividly what my Adult Psychiatry supervisor, Dr. Kenneth Certa, used to tell me “Once a Child Psychiatrist, always a Child Psychiatrist.”

The story of Teddy and Cayman is one of many indicators that children’s behaviors and moods should not be taken for their face value. More often than not, there is a more profound underlying problem or problems. They need help and we should be ready to be the next Mrs. Thompson.