Teacher Needs Sick Day Donations To Spend Time With Daughter

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Sometimes, there are circumstances that override ones responsibilities at work. This is certainly the case with Mae Jemison High School teacher and coach David Green. Green's daughter was diagnosed with leukemia in October, and taking sick days to spend time with his one-year-old means he has run out of sick days. But Green's dedication to staying at his daughter's side while she battles this illness continues.

Since her diagnosis, the young cancer patient has received aggressive treatments including surgery, spinal taps and intensive chemotherapy. While Green's wife, Megan, took a temporary leave from her job at Sonnie Hereford Elementary, David has been driving back and forth from Huntsville to the hospital in Birmingham.

According to state laws, Alabama public school employees may voluntarily join a sick leave bank to obtain additional sick leave days to “avoid loss of compensation due to a catastrophic illness or injury.” The laws also allow for members of the sick leave bank program to donate their extra days to fellow members. Now, countless teachers across the state are offering up their unused sick days to Green.

Megan Green posted on Facebook that her husband needs donations from fellow teachers in the state.

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“Kinsley will be in treatment for leukemia through the end of the summer and maybe even into the beginning of the school year next year,” she wrote. “Any help would be appreciated.”

The post has been shared more than 1,200 times since Megan posted to her Facebook Thursday evening. Users eager to help have begun tagging friends who work for Alabama public schools. The Greens were so overwhelmed by the messages of compassion and generosity, they had to share their GoFundMe page and Amazon Wish List so others could help them in their time of need.