Things looked grim when Brittney Johnson was born prematurely, weighing 1 pound, 11 ounces.
Johnson developed severe asthma as a result of her low birth weight and early arrival. Every birthday and holiday for the next seven years were spent in a hospital.
“If it wasn’t for National Jewish, who knows what grade she would be in for all the absences,” said mother Beverly Johnson.
But because Brittney, now 13, was able to go to Kunsberg School, a K-8 school on the grounds of National Jewish Health, her asthma is now controlled and she hasn’t been hospitalized in almost three years. This allows her to focus on education so she doesn’t fall behind, Johnson said.
National Jewish Health helps fund Kunsberg, which serves children with a chronic illness, and is among the agencies that have applied for Season to Share funding this year.
Brittney’s story is similar to those of the 83 students currently enrolled at the school.
For students at Kunsberg, the day starts off in the nurses’ office for a check-up and for medications.
“We record everything,” said principal John Reid.
Keeping tabs on the students allows the school staff to prevent any major health problem. The kids are also checked out before and after their daily recess.
Three nurses are available every day, and teachers are trained to recognize warning signs that a student needs treatment.
“Our goal is for them to come to school, even when they don’t feel 100 percent,” said Michelle Freas, Kunsberg’s medical director.
The only time students are sent home at Kunsberg is if they are contagious or have a fever of more than 101 degrees. Anything else can be treated while at school, Reid and Freas said.
Tunnels lead the school staff straight to the emergency room 100 yards away if the need arises, but Freas said that need hasn’t occurred in her 18 years at Kunsberg.
“Kids want to be normal, and we give them the most normal life they may have ever had,” Freas said. “We don’t want a ‘poor, poor me’ atmosphere.”
When Aujanee Joyce, 10, talks about Kunsberg, she mentions her classes before the medical attention.
“Kunsberg just feels better,” Aujanee said. “The way my teacher does it, she does a lot of fun projects.”
The school is accredited and follows state curriculum standards, and students take Colorado standardized tests just as they would at other schools.
Still, Kunsberg students and their parents notice something different.
“It’s a night-and-day difference,” said Charlotte Brown, of her son Zachary’s education.
Zachary, 7, who has multiple allergies, eczema and asthma, transferred to Kunsberg after being enrolled in a kindergarten at another Denver school.
“When I would take him to school, I would worry about him every day,” Brown said. “Now when I drop him off, I never give it a second thought.”
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372 or yrobles@denverpost.com
Kunsberg School
Address: 1400 Jackson St., Denver, CO 80206
In operation since: 1977
Number served last year: 83
Staff: 16
Yearly budget: $2.38 million
Percentage of funds directly to clients/ services: 67
