Last year, Tim Gjoraas, a veteran teacher of 22 years, was forced to face one of life’s hardest lessons when he was diagnosed with colon cancer.
This July, despite chemotherapy treatments, doctors told the 45-year-old father he had only a few months to live.
Gjoraas decided to spend what precious time he has left at home with his wife and three kids. After revealing the circumstances of his retirement from Washington High School on social media, the Sioux Falls, South Dakota community immediately rallied to his support.
One thing Gjoraas was determined to take care of before time ran out was to make sure the family home got painted blue—a color his wife loves—even if he wasn’t there to do it himself.
Gjoraas turned to his friend Doug Rinken, a retired chemistry teacher, for help. “I just asked him if next summer, which I probably won’t be here for, if he can paint it for my wife,” Gjoraas told CNN.
Rinken did better than that.
The following Saturday, a painting crew comprised of Gjoraas’ former coworkers arrived armed with donated brushes, sprayers, drop cloths, and paint.
“[Doug] told me he got quite a bit of help, but I didn’t know it was going to represent my whole career, people from all my years at Washington High,” Gjoraas told the Argus Leader.
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Five hours later, after the facade of the once brown house was light blue, everyone celebrated with an impromptu get-together in the family driveway.
As thrilled as Gjoraas was at having his wish fulfilled, he was equally happy for a chance to spend time with the colleagues he so missed and reminisce over a few well-earned beers.
“If you spend your life being a good person and hanging around good people, trying to make a positive impact on your community, if you need something, people show up,” Gjoraas reflected humbly. “It’s pretty amazing the outpouring of love my family’s had.”
Another lesson the Gjoraas family will be reminded of whenever they look back on this day is that sometimes the color of love is blue.
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