by Regina Brewer

A longtime teacher at Mary Lin Elementary School, Kerri Mercer Brooks, was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2009. She underwent surgery and was cancer free for three years. In August and then again in December of 2012, the cancer returned and Kerri once again had two additional surgeries. This spring she will undergo chemotherapy and radiation and will continue her fight against cancer.  She has a two-year-old daughter, Kaylee, and is expecting her second daughter in May.

Kerri has long been a loved 5^th grade teacher at Mary Lin. She is one of those teachers that kids look forward to having each year. Kerri has a wonderful sense of humor and an incredible singing voice. She uses both of these talents to inspire her students daily. Her lessons are never boring and music can be heard floating out of her portable classroom on most days. Mary Lin would not be the same without her.

This amazing teacher now needs our help.  She has had to miss numerous days of school and has many medical bills already with more on the way with her treatments this spring.

You can help by donating to a special fund to help Kerri and her family cope with the medical bills and extended costs of battling Stage 4 cancer. Go to her YouCaring.com page to donate.

Ms. Brewer, a parent, is a resident of Inman Park, one of the three communities in Mary Lin Elementary School's attendance zone.