Bartow Student, 8, Loses Battle With Cancer

RYDAL, GA — The Bartow County School System is mourning the loss of a third-grade student who lost her battle with cancer. Elizabeth "Eli" Kaplan died Tuesday, Nov. 27 after fighting not one, but two, battles with cancer during her short lifetime, the system said.

Eli, a third-grade student at Pine Log Elementary School, will be remembered for her spunky, adventurous spirit, BCSS said.

“She had no fear it seemed,” said PLES Counselor Francie Livingston. “Eli was willing to try
anything academically or socially. She was also the definition of love, as she loved her family
and school fiercely, especially Ms. Allison Gilbert.”

Gilbert taught Elizabeth in kindergarten and second grade.

“She was a hero to Eli,” Livingston added, referring to Gilbert.

Even though she was the student, Eli taught Gilbert and Pine Log Elementary School even more about living life with grace, humility, passion, and fire.

“Elizabeth was the smallest in the class, but she had the biggest heart,” Gilbert added. “Elizabeth loved helping me. She would come in and say, ‘Do you have anything you need me to do for you?’ She was like my own personal paraprofessional. When I would ask the students what they wanted to be when they grew up, Elizabeth would always say, ‘a teacher.’ Although she is no longer with us, we will always cherish the memories we have of her.”

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here)

School officials notified third-grade families of Elizabeth’s passing, offering parents and guardians the opportunity to visit the school Wednesday and discuss the situation with their child with or without the help of a professional school counselor. Additional counselors will be available Thursday, Nov. 29 for students and the entire Pine Log community.

“We want to open it up to the community because Eli and her family were loved by all, not just
her school family,” says Livingston.

In September, PLES and several other schools within the Bartow County School System held
fundraisers for Elizabeth’s family, raising more than $12,000. Donations are still coming in. If
you would like to donate, please contact Pine Log Elementary School at (770) 606-5864.

Image via Bartow County Schools