A Teacher Who Was Battling Cancer Ran Out Of Sick Days. So His Colleagues Donated More Than 100 Days To Him

Robert Goodman never imagined that one of the most challenging seasons of his life would begin with a single doctor’s appointment. For years, he had faithfully shown up in a Florida classroom as a public school history teacher, pouring knowledge, encouragement, and steady care into the lives of his students. Teaching was never just a job to him—it was a calling. Each lesson, each conversation, and each school day carried the quiet purpose of shaping young minds and reminding students that their lives mattered.

Then came the diagnosis that changed everything.

Robert learned he had stage III colon cancer, words that instantly shift a person’s world. Plans pause. Ordinary routines disappear. Questions rush in where certainty once lived. Almost immediately, he entered an intense season of surgery and chemotherapy, determined to fight for his health and his future. Like many facing serious illness, he stepped into a journey filled with hospital rooms, medical appointments, physical exhaustion, and emotional uncertainty.

Yet even in the middle of fear, God was already at work in ways Robert could not yet see.

As treatments progressed, another heavy reality emerged. The necessary time away from work quickly used up all of his paid sick leave. For a devoted teacher, the thought of being forced to return to the classroom before his body was ready was deeply concerning. He wanted to heal fully. He wanted the strength to stand before his students again. But without additional leave, that future felt uncertain.

In a moment of humility and courage, Robert did something simple—but deeply vulnerable.

From a hospital room, surrounded by the quiet sounds of treatment, he took a selfie and shared it with fellow educators. His message was honest and heartfelt. He asked if anyone might be willing to donate a few sick days so he could continue chemotherapy without the pressure of returning too soon.

He wasn’t asking for a miracle.

Just a little time.

Just a little help.

But sometimes, God answers small prayers in very big ways.

What happened next unfolded with breathtaking speed. Within just four days, coworkers, administrators, and school staff responded with overwhelming generosity. One by one, they gave from what they had—unused sick days, quiet notes of encouragement, whispered prayers, and heartfelt messages of support.

By the end of those four days, more than 100 sick days had been donated.

It was far beyond the 20 days Robert had hoped for.

Far beyond what he expected.

And a powerful reminder that God often moves through the kindness of ordinary people.

For Robert, the gift was more than time off work.

It was peace of mind.

It was space to heal.

It was evidence that he was not alone.

In seasons of illness, loneliness can feel just as heavy as physical pain. Hospital walls can seem quiet. Long nights can stretch endlessly. Fear can whisper questions with no easy answers. But through the compassion of his community, Robert experienced something different.

He experienced presence.

He experienced love in action.

He experienced the hands and feet of Christ surrounding him.

Scripture reminds us in Galatians 6:2 to “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

That is exactly what Robert’s fellow educators did.

They carried part of his burden so he could keep fighting.

And in doing so, they revealed something beautiful about the heart of God.

God does not always remove the storm immediately.

But He faithfully sends people to stand beside us in the storm.

Throughout his treatment, Robert received not only donated sick days but also messages from students whose lives he had impacted over the years. Words of gratitude. Promises of prayer. Stories of lessons that had stayed with them long after leaving his classroom.

In those messages, Robert saw the quiet fruit of a life poured into others.

Teachers rarely see the full impact of their work. Seeds planted in classrooms often grow silently over time. Yet in this difficult moment, God allowed Robert to glimpse the harvest. The same compassion he had shown students was now returning to him in abundance.

This is one of the great mysteries of faith:

What we give in love is never lost.

God multiplies it.

God returns it.

Often when we need it most.

As days turned into weeks and treatment continued, the generosity surrounding Robert became a steady source of strength. Not every moment was easy. Cancer journeys rarely are. There were still hard days, tired mornings, and uncertain moments.

But hope was now woven into the story.

Hope in the prayers being lifted.

Hope in the kindness being shown.

Hope in the reminder that God was near.

Psalm 34:18 tells us,

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Robert’s story reflects that promise in a deeply personal way. God’s closeness appeared through coworkers who gave sacrificially, students who encouraged faithfully, and a community that refused to let him fight alone.

Healing, in God’s kingdom, is often communal.

One person hurts.

Many people respond.

And together, grace becomes visible.

For readers walking through their own difficult seasons—whether illness, loss, or uncertainty—Robert’s journey offers a gentle but powerful reminder:

You are not alone.

Even when life feels quiet…

Even when the road feels long…

God is already moving hearts around you.

Sometimes help arrives through doctors.

Sometimes through friends.

Sometimes through strangers.

And sometimes through something as simple—and sacred—as donated sick days.

Each act of kindness becomes a whisper of God’s presence saying,

“I see you. I am with you. Keep going.”

Robert later shared that the overwhelming support reminded him why he became a teacher in the first place. Not just to teach history, but to be part of a community built on care, encouragement, and shared humanity.

In many ways, this season revealed a deeper truth:

The classroom had always been bigger than four walls.

It was a place where love was learned.

And now that love was returning to him.

Stories like Robert’s matter because they shine light in a world that often feels heavy with difficult news. They remind us that compassion is still alive. That generosity still exists. That faith is still powerful.

Most of all, they remind us that God still works through people every single day.

Not always with loud miracles.

Sometimes with quiet kindness.

Sometimes with simple generosity.

Sometimes with just enough help to take the next step forward.

And often, that is miracle enough.

Today, Robert’s journey continues—like so many who walk the road of healing one day at a time. The future is held in God’s hands, just as it always has been. But one thing is certain: his story has already touched countless lives.

Because when one community chooses love over indifference…

When people carry each other’s burdens…

When faith shows up in practical, tangible ways…

God’s heart becomes visible on earth.

And that may be the greatest miracle of all.