PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Students at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind in Oakland got emotional on Wednesday as they welcomed a longtime staff member back after a lengthy absence while recovering from a serious health issue.
Just before 10 a.m., students and faculty were ready and waiting in line with pom-poms and signs in hand, waiting for someone to show up.
Ron Tetza walked into the school building to cheers and lots of love as he stepped inside for the first time since the beginning of the year.
In February his health began to deteriorate.
“I have a device inside me that is working and giving me constant electric shocks,” Tecza said.
He underwent six surgeries in six weeks, the last of which was a heart transplant, and months of rehabilitation and therapy.
Then, a few weeks ago, he was cleared to return to the job he'd held for 28 years.
“I was hoping, praying and just talking about work,” Tecza said.
His boss, Dennis Kwiatkowski, wasn't ready for him to come back in time for the new school year.
“It feels like a miracle to us that Ron is back today,” Kwiatkowski said. “We didn't expect him to come back so soon.”
They were looking forward to greeting him again.
“Ron is willing to pitch in wherever he's needed,” Kwiatkowski said.
Holly Russell is the middle school principal.
“We all really came together and really wanted him to recover and it's just great to see him come back,” Russell said.
For Tetsa, too, it had been a long wait to be reunited with her schoolmates, as she held back tears.
“I'm grateful to be alive. I'm grateful to be alive and to be with my family,” Tecza said.
