School employees donate sick days to cancer-stricken teacher

LAUREN LEE, CNN by LAUREN LEE, 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.

“Educators all over the country were reaching out to me to donate their sick days, even professors over at Florida Atlantic University,” he said. “I felt guilty because I knew there were people who had it much worse than me.”

A terrifying diagnosis, a stunning response

Goodman, who has taught history at Palm Beach Gardens Community High School for 23 years, learned he had stage III colon cancer in April. “It was terrifying,” he said.

He began documenting his journey on Facebook.

“It was the easiest way to let people know how I was feeling and at the same time inspire people who were going through something similar,” Goodman said.

The response to his appeal for more sick days was remarkable.

“I wasn’t surprised that teachers were giving. Teachers are always giving all the time,” he said. ” When one of their own needs help they’ll always step up.

And there was the outpouring of support from students.

“Students sharing stories of how I’ve positively influenced them was a good reminder of why I chose to teach and why I can’t wait to get back,” Goodman said.

Missing school, but still teaching a lesson

Classes at Goodman’s school started on August 13th. For now, he isn’t there. As Goodman continues to fight cancer, the self-proclaimed “teacher by day, singer-songwriter by life” is working on songs. He hopes to use his experience to inspire more good in humanity.

“Anybody can get cancer, but not everyone is willing to help,” Goodman said. “We all have it in us, but it’s good to get back in touch with our compassion.”