On July 21, 2019, Dr. Chet Lapeza was just starting his shift as one of the volunteer Physicians staffing the Medical Center at the 2019 World Boy Scout Jamboree in West Virginia. As an Eagle Scout (who is also the father of two Eagle Scouts!), Chet was a frequent volunteer doctor for Scouting events...as well as a former Cubmaster and current Assistant Scout Master for Troop 270 in Cordele, GA.
Chet began to feel ill, and his fellow doctors soon realized he was in trouble. He was life-flighted to Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, WV where they soon discovered he had suffered a brain aneurysm. Despite the best efforts of the doctors in the Trauma Center and Neuro Intensive Care Unit, they were unable to contain the bleeding and determined that the brain bleed would prove to be fatal.
As a doctor himself, Chet knew the power of organ donation and had told his wife, Amy, that he would definitely want his organs donated if the decision was ever on the table. As such, Amy authorized the hospital to donate as many organs and tissues as they could, with the goal of helping as many other patients and families as possible.
Chet leaves behind his wife, Amy, and two children, Ches & Eli. Ches is a rising sophomore at Emory University and Eli is a rising junior in high school (and also aspires to attend Emory). Amy does work part-time, but Chet has been the family's primary breadwinner for nearly two decades. All funds raised from this fundraiser will be directed towards the children's college funds.
Chet dedicated his entire life to helping others. There are many patients who are alive today thanks to Chet's skill as a physician and many former Scouts who credit Chet with helping make them the men they are today.
The coming years will be full of unimaginable pain for the Lapeza family. Chet wanted nothing more than to see his children fulfill their college dreams; helping them do that will honor his memory in a perfect way!