Education Magazine

Excellence In Education Lincoln Daily News January 25, 2023 Page 13 The past few years have been challenging for schools across the country for reasons no one was prepared for. Throughout the challenging times, Chester-East Lincoln Elementary (CEL) has held on to the motto: One School. One Family. As with any community, CEL teachers and staff have had their fair share of challenges due to the pandemic but also including the loss of loved ones, illness, accidents, and more. Although this is not specific to CEL, the family culture at CEL is unique and special. Recently, the CEL Family was hit with another crisis - but this time it involved third-grade student Eli Maynard. Eli had been having some health concerns that his parents, Josh and Erica Maynard were investigating through various doctor appointments. He was taken to prompt care in severe pain and from there was sent to the Lincoln ER. After performing some tests, he was transported by ambulance to St. John’s hospital. It was determined that Eli was going to need surgery to remove part of his small intestines and appendix. A few days later, Eli was discharged from the hospital and feeling pretty good! The relief of being home was short-lived when his parents received a phone call that would change their lives and put them on a path untraveled, a path no child or parent should have to travel. Eli’s pathology report came back and shockingly he was found to have Large B-Cell Lymphoma. His parents, siblings Evan, Ethan, and Emery, and family were in shock. The surgeon that performed the surgery was just as surprised. Eli was immediately re- Continued --