Rappaport’s Stomach & Liver Cancer Fight Club
Donation protected
Last year, our Greenwood Lakes Middle School family in Lake Mary, Florida got life changing news: Andrew Rappaport, a devoted, beloved social studies teacher was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer. This type of disease has less than 100 cases documented in total.
Determined to overcome this, he, an emphatic history teacher with a keen eye towards research, did his homework to understand the treatments available so he could overcome this blow and spend as much time enjoying life’s milestones with his wife Jaime and 3 sons: Tyler, a senior this year in high school, Riley, a freshman in high school, and Oliver, a nine-year-old elementary school student.
This roller coaster of a journey started with “just 6 chemo sessions”, which turned into 13 chemo sessions (+ at least 4 more suggested post-surgery), 25 radiation treatments, stomach surgery, emergency visits, and copious amounts of doctors’ appointments.
This past week, after having issues with keeping food down, he was told that the cancer had metastasized to his liver, so his medical team is strongly pushing for aggressive treatment. Unfortunately accumulating more expensive hospital visits and bills. He is not usually on the receiving end of getting help and always is trying to help and make life easier/better for others, but we know he and his family need all the help they can get.
Aside from his love for his family, his passion for influencing, inspiring, and changing the lives of our future generation drives him to care for today’s students. Whether the student needs support, a shoulder to lean on, or a push in the right direction, he has been like a father figure to them. He is a positive male role model that has witnessed students become the best versions of themselves.
When he was first diagnosed during distance teaching in the spring of 2020, he was cracking jokes in a faculty meeting while attending his first chemo session to cheer everyone up. We made shirts to start raising funds for the medical costs. On the back of the jersey it reads: One Eagle Heart. This quote came from a colleague’s unforgettable recognition he is the heartbeat of campus.
Not only is he my pod mate and friend, but he has been my big brother on campus for 9 years, and if you had the pleasure of being related to him, working with him, attending a workshop, being a part of the Disney/SeaWorld crew, involved in the filming of Water Boy, or attending school with him, you would know his humor and presence is essential.
The family is already grateful for: the meal trains, cards, gift cards, gifts, well wishes/prayers from family, friends, former students… but they need as much assistance financially as they can get. Any monetary donation, no matter how big or small, will bring this family sunshine during this thunderstorm. As Mrs. Mumey our former AP (current principal at MMS)beautifully stated to him, “You are a fighter and even though you are the one in the middle of the ring getting beat up, your ‘fight club’ is here to support and encourage you along the way. “
He will keep fighting, but we want to support him every step of the way!
Determined to overcome this, he, an emphatic history teacher with a keen eye towards research, did his homework to understand the treatments available so he could overcome this blow and spend as much time enjoying life’s milestones with his wife Jaime and 3 sons: Tyler, a senior this year in high school, Riley, a freshman in high school, and Oliver, a nine-year-old elementary school student.
This roller coaster of a journey started with “just 6 chemo sessions”, which turned into 13 chemo sessions (+ at least 4 more suggested post-surgery), 25 radiation treatments, stomach surgery, emergency visits, and copious amounts of doctors’ appointments.
This past week, after having issues with keeping food down, he was told that the cancer had metastasized to his liver, so his medical team is strongly pushing for aggressive treatment. Unfortunately accumulating more expensive hospital visits and bills. He is not usually on the receiving end of getting help and always is trying to help and make life easier/better for others, but we know he and his family need all the help they can get.
Aside from his love for his family, his passion for influencing, inspiring, and changing the lives of our future generation drives him to care for today’s students. Whether the student needs support, a shoulder to lean on, or a push in the right direction, he has been like a father figure to them. He is a positive male role model that has witnessed students become the best versions of themselves.
When he was first diagnosed during distance teaching in the spring of 2020, he was cracking jokes in a faculty meeting while attending his first chemo session to cheer everyone up. We made shirts to start raising funds for the medical costs. On the back of the jersey it reads: One Eagle Heart. This quote came from a colleague’s unforgettable recognition he is the heartbeat of campus.
Not only is he my pod mate and friend, but he has been my big brother on campus for 9 years, and if you had the pleasure of being related to him, working with him, attending a workshop, being a part of the Disney/SeaWorld crew, involved in the filming of Water Boy, or attending school with him, you would know his humor and presence is essential.
The family is already grateful for: the meal trains, cards, gift cards, gifts, well wishes/prayers from family, friends, former students… but they need as much assistance financially as they can get. Any monetary donation, no matter how big or small, will bring this family sunshine during this thunderstorm. As Mrs. Mumey our former AP (current principal at MMS)beautifully stated to him, “You are a fighter and even though you are the one in the middle of the ring getting beat up, your ‘fight club’ is here to support and encourage you along the way. “
He will keep fighting, but we want to support him every step of the way!
Organizer and beneficiary
Stephanie Schlottfeldt
Organizer
Longwood, FL
Andrew Rappaport
Beneficiary