Northmead Performing Arts High School principal Narelle Vazquez anticipates return
Cancer has sidelined a principal from helming the school where she has worked for 16 years but she is more determined than ever to return.
Parramatta
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Most of her students are counting down the days until the spring holidays but Northmead Performing Arts High School principal Narelle Vazquez can’t wait to get back to work.
Ms Vazquez, who has been the principal there for 16 years, was forced to take two terms off after the head and neck cancer she was diagnosed with four years ago returned.
The cancer impaired her jaw, tongue and floor of her mouth.
In between surgeries, radiation, speech and swallowing therapy, Ms Vazquez has kept in contact with the school where she hopes to resume her much-loved career in term four.
“I’m in constant touch with school and staff them through email just about every day except when I was in intensive care,’’ she said.
“School’s my life and I’m just really passionate about it and it’s because the teachers work well for the students, and it gives me direction and something to aim for as well and it makes me work hard.”
She recently turned up to support HSC students during a musical performance.
“As a principal you know about them and care about them and their achievements,’’ she said.
She relied on her speech and voice to address staff and students, from assemblies to cheering them on during dance, musical and circus showcases.
She underwent treatment at Royal North Shore Hospital, where senior speech pathologist Danielle Stone has helped her with voice rehabilitation.
“With an intensive swallowing rehabilitation program, she has made great progress and is able to drink liquids and eat pureed foods,’’ she said.
“We work very closely within the oncology team and manage people like Narelle from time of diagnosis and for years after treatment as needed.”