Bucs May Have Won Sunday's Game Against Bears But Pasco Teacher Was The Day's Champion

LUTZ, FL — It's been a long, arduous year for Jennifer Koszewnik, a 39-year-old third-grade teacher at Wiregrass Elementary School who was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2020.

But the message she delivered to the thousands of fans attending the Buccaneers vs. Chicago Bears game at Raymond James Stadium Sunday had nothing to do with the pain following her double mastectomy, the grueling side effects of 17 chemotherapy treatments or the moments of uncertainty she experienced as her hair fell out in clumps.

Hers was a message of survival and hope, strength and determination.

During halftime, Koszewnik stood on the 50-yardline, and was introduced to the world as the AdventHealth Goal Getter of the Game while photos showing her breast cancer journey were flashed across the stadium's big screen and to the fans watching the game from home.

"The strength and courage you've shown during your fight against breast cancer is truly inspiring," said Bucs defensive end William Gholston, presenting her with a Buccaneers jersey. She and her husband, Terry, were given VIP treatment and prime seats to watch the Bucs trounce the Bears 38-3.

While AdventHealth, the hospital that has treated Koszewnik since her diagnosis, chose Koszewnik to honor during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, she's certainly not alone in her fight.

According to breastcancer.org, this year 281,550 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. About one in eight (13 percent) of women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in her lifetime.

And, sadly, an estimated 43,600 women in the U.S. will die from breast cancer this year.

Koszewnik, the mother of two sons, ages 10 and 13, said she owes her life to one of those nagging feelings that something's just not right.

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"Breast cancer is not something that was in my family, so it was never really on my radar," she said. "I just happened to notice a small change, something that was so minor. But something just kept nagging me, like, you need to get this checked out."

She promptly made an appointment with her doctor who agreed it was probably nothing but went ahead and scheduled Koszewnik for a mammogram.

"I started the school year and then, in September 2020, I got the call from my doctor," she said. "It was like, 'Wow, you've got breast cancer. Thank goodness you came when you did because, if this had been a year from now when you normally get screened, who knows what we would have caught.'"

Her doctor sent her to a surgeon the following day.

"I wanted the surgery done right away," Koszewnik said. "I didn't really give myself time to let it sink in. I just wanted it over with."

She said her outlook changed when she revealed her diagnosis to her fellow teachers at Wiregrass Elementary School.

"My school community probably saved my life," she said.

They delivered meals to her home, presented her with gift certificates, so she could pamper herself and set up a GoFundMe campaign so she and her family wouldn't have to worry about the additional expenses they faced from her lengthy medical treatments.

"It just changed my outlook on everything," Koszewnik said. "I realized you need to stress less and look at the big picture and really appreciate what you have."

As she prepares for her 18th chemotherapy treatment Friday, Koszewnik said standing on the football field Sunday, hearing the cheers from the Tampa Bay community and seeing her own story scroll across the big screen only increased her determination to win the battle against breast cancer.

"I've never felt so much love and support," she said. "I just love the Tampa Bay community."

At the same time, she said she hopes sharing her story will inspire other women to keep fighting.

"I hope it's made people realize, you know, they're not alone," she said.

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