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Deanna Herlihy, known to many as "Miss Dee," opened Curiosity Corner 19 years ago, but was forced to close it March 1, during her fight with metastatic breast cancer.
"Ms. Dee is the first teacher many of our little ones ever had," said her GoFundMe friends. "For the past 19 years at Curiosity Corne,r she taught them letters, shapes, colors, kindness, a love of nature on their walks to the park and helped them create keepsake art projects."
After being cancer-free for nearly 20 years, last summer Herlihy learned that cancer has returned and spread to her bones and lungs.
She's had surgery to drain the fluids in her lungs, which has made it impossible for her to continue teaching, the GoFundMe page said.
For the past several years, after her husband was seriously injured at their daughter's wedding, Ms. Dee has been the sole provider for her family. He has been through eight surgeries in the past three years and suffers from health complications.
To date, $14,000 of a $20,000 goal has been raised.
Donations to the GoFundMe will go to help Ms. Dee and her family financially while she is unable to work.
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