Ziegler doing well, aims for a return to classroom soon

“I don’t think I could be walking right now without everyone here,” he said in that moment. “I feel like I could run a marathon right now. I can’t believe it. My doctors probably wouldn’t be happy with me.”

Ziegler has been gaining strength and has set a goal. His doctors originally estimated he could return to his classroom after six months, and that’s his plan now. By early next year, Ziegler would like to be teaching again.

Almost two years ago, Ziegler was diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis, a degenerative heart disease. He had to stop coaching the Stowe High girls soccer team shortly thereafter, but continued to teach until his health would no longer allow it.

When his condition deteriorated, Ziegler had surgery to implant a left-ventricle assistive device to keep his heart pumping until a matching donor heart could be found.

After months of waiting, he received a new heart late in July, and returned home right before the start of the school year.

“I am doing really well,” Ziegler said this week, “and I continue to get great support from the school district and the community. My progress has definitely been expedited by their encouragement.”

Ziegler just started driving again, and was able to attend almost every soccer game his former team played in the playoffs — including the game in Bellows Falls Nov. 5 when Stowe High won the state Division 3 championship.

“I am a lot stronger than I was when I returned home,” Ziegler said this week. “Going to the games was my social period. I also go into work once in a while. I enjoy it. It’s home.”

The teacher who took over the science classroom for the interim, Mike Walogorsky, is phenomenal, Ziegler said, and he has given Ziegler a chance to co-teach a few times. But the teacher of 21 years is looking forward to getting back to the kids full-time.

“I just turned 56. I’m still young, and I have a lot left to offer,” Ziegler said. “Hopefully I can return the favor to everyone who helped me along the way.”