(CNN) The chemotherapy dripped through a catheter in his chest. Cancer patient Robert Goodman had burned through his paid sick days while undergoing surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer.

The Florida public school teacher figured he needed at least 20 additional sick days to deal with more chemotherapy, days he just didn't have. So on July 23, right there in a room at Tomsich Health and Medical Center of Palm Beach County, Goodman took a selfie, posted it on Facebook and appealed for help.

Within four days he had enough sick days to cover an entire semester.

"I couldn't believe it happened so fast," Goodman, 56, told CNN.

Teachers, staff members, administrators and even lunchroom workers who pay into the Florida retirement system transferred 75 sick days to Goodman.

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