VIDEO: Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Principal Leads School and Battles Advanced Breast Cancer with Positivity
FOREST HILLS — A lot of people depend on Anne Zuschlag’s leadership. There are very few things that can get in her way — certainly not breast cancer.
“It was intended, or thought to be basically a very simple cancer that could be removed easily with surgery and radiation treatment,” Zuschlag said.
That was back in 2011. That seemingly simple cancer came back that same year and has been with Zuschlag ever since. She’s now on her fifth course of treatment for the hormone receptor positive and triple negative cancer that’s evolved over time — but Zuschlag’s positivity has been steady.
“I think when you live in the sadness, it’s not healthy. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going and be grateful for the blessings that you do have, which are many,” she said.
There is no cure but Zuschlag has found a way to thrive — by pouring herself into her work as principal of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Academy in Forest Hills.
“Work is mission. Work is purpose. Work is restorative for me. And it’s a community of faith, which is also very important because it fortifies everything that you’re already feeling. Everything that you want so desperately to believe in hope for. Is every day a part of your life,” Zuschlag said.
And her dedication has paid off — Our Lady Queen of Martyrs’ state test scores are consistently among the highest in the Diocese of Brooklyn. She has three children of her own plus the 338 who walk the halls every day.
“If you help to grow strong people, they’ll make it through. That really was my prayer. It wasn’t for keep me here forever. Make it go away. It was just really make sure that the people who need me most will be okay if it’s my time to be called,” she said. “So I’m glad that I haven’t been called yet.”