WOODBURY — Many people hear about the ideals of neighbors helping each other up during trying times. Although this may be a goal for many, it was a reality for Nonnewaug junior Hannah Ringeisen.

Ringeisen experienced something that is very uncommon.

“At the age of 7, I found out I had atrial septal defect, ASD for short,” Ringeisen explains. “ASD is a birth defect that causes a hole … between the heart’s upper chambers.”

This sounds terrifying, but for Ringeisen, the community made the entire experience, which included surgery, less intimidating.

“It really did not feel like I was having this major surgery,” she explains.

“The support from everybody when she was going through that was just amazing,” says Lori Grant, a staff member at Mitchell Elementary School and a friend of the Ringeisens. 

She found support in many places, one of them being Mitchell Elementary School.

Ringeisen remembers all the things that Mitchell had done to make “going back to school [feel] easy.”

The most meaningful things that Mitchell did weren’t anything material, but came from the heart. It was things like Grant, a lunch aide, welcoming Ringeisen back to school with a big card at the lunch table or when “my fourth-grade class made a quilt for me which every kid got to decorate a square,” Ringeisen recalls.

It was these things that made memories. Grant still remembers making the card for Ringeisen.

“Her mom had come in and we talked a bit and she said it would be a while before Hannah could come back to school,” Grant explains. “Mrs. Inga [a fellow lunch aide] and I, we asked the principal if it would be OK if we made a big card.” 

After laying the foundation for Ringeisen’s welcome back, it was time for Grant and Inga to complete their plan.

“We had every student in the school sign it, we had her class sign the front of it,” Grant says. “It said, ‘We love you, Hannah. Welcome back.” 

After finishing the huge card, they were ready for the big reveal when Ringeisen returned.

“We had the big card there and she was just smiling, and everyone was clapping, and cheering for her. It was awesome,” says Grant. “Everyone was stoked she was back. They were just part of the family at Mitchell.”

Ringeisen had the surgery right around Christmas time, which sent the community into full force as Santa’s helpers. 

“A lot of support was shown among the community of Woodbury, especially by bringing meals and supplying our family with Christmas presents for that year,” Ringeisen explains. 

When thinking about the surgery, she remembers more the good things and less the bad. 

“When I look back at having surgery, I don’t think of the scary parts and the pain of recovery,” Ringeisen says. “I think of the support that was given, how excited I was to see so many presents that year, [and] how I got as much ice cream as I wanted.”

Now, Ringeisen excels in crafts like sewing, for which she had grown a love through 4H and has become a way to help the same community that helped her for so long.

“I’ve been with the Busy Stitchers 4H for about six years now,” she explains. “[The] Busy Stitchers group … teaches children and young adults about sewing. I find sewing to be a lost skill that more people should learn. So many people see a big rip in their clothes and put it in the trash, but with sewing it’s easy enough to take two minutes on the machine and fix it.” 

Not only has 4H grown her love for sewing, but it is an outlet to give back to the community that had shown her so much support. 

“Every year, the 4H Busy Stitchers sews and stuffs tote bags with items women need, like hygiene products, and donates them to women in need,” Ringeisen said. 

Building Connections 

Ringeisen touches the hearts of all she meets. Grant still remembers many, memories with her, and her brother, Jack. 

“Her brother used to come in, and I’ll remember it forever, he had an AC/DC jean jacket, and I told him when he grew up I was going to take that jean jacket and they would laugh,” Grant recalls, laughing just by talking about it. “She has a good sense of humor.”

Grant noticed the siblings’ close bond.

“They were just always supportive of each other and just the sweetest brother and sister to each other,” Grant says. “[When] Hannah came back, she would come into the cafe, and [when] she saw her brother, they would give each other a hug. If Jack saw her in the hallway, he would give her a hug. I still see Hannah and Jack and give a hug. They will always be part of my family, too.”

Facing Current Health Issues Today 

Ringeisen had recovered from her surgery thanks to much love, community, and ice cream, but she still faces struggles — one of them being diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). 

“I am a teenager who struggles with my health, including an invisible illness called POTS,” Ringeisen explains. “POTS is a passing-out disorder that affects every aspect of my body.”

An invisible illness is an illness where others cannot openly see it, but more goes on beneath the surface, which can cause more problems. 

“I’ve had so many people tell me I’m not actually sick because you can’t see my health issues by just looking at me,” Ringeisen says. 

Not only do people misunderstand or simply deny Ringeisen’s health problems, but it can also impact her socially. 

“I’ve had so many times I’ve had to cancel plans because of a flare-up, which led people to stop inviting me to things, thinking I would just say no to every invite,” explains Ringeisen. “I’ve even had people stop being friends with me due to my health issues.” 

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade 

Although living will these health struggles may be hard sometimes, Ringeisen has learned a lot. 

“I’ve found it’s important to look at the good,” she says. “Sometimes the good is really hard to find, but it’s always there.” 

Grant has seen this in Ringeisen, even since she was little, always remembering how “Hannah always had a smile on her face, no matter what she was feeling. If she was worried, or scared, or doing good, she always had a smile on her face.” 

Ringeisen has met many people along her journey, all who have taught her something. 

“I’ve met people who are struggling so much and have almost nothing, but they act like they just won the lottery,” Ringeisen says. “It’s all about how you look at things.”

This is a perspective that circles around optimism and seeing the bright side of things, but this is not the only thing she has learned. 

“You can’t just look at someone and know everything about them,” Ringeisen says. “People can be struggling and you won’t even know it, so it’s important to be kind and patient with everyone even if you think they don’t deserve it.”

Grant knows Ringeisen well enough to know that she practices what she preaches.

“She treated everyone — everyone — like they were her friend.” says Grant. “Hannah has a heart of gold, literally.”