MONROE — A few months ago, 22-year-old Zach Eizak complained that he wasn’t feeling well and that his throat felt irritated. Then he started to feel tired and exhausted.
Later, he developed some swelling around his throat and his parents took him to a doctor. Zach had a mass in his throat.
The 2021 Monroe High School graduate and current Monroe County Community College student saw doctors at the University of Michigan Hospital. He had a biopsy, a diagnosis: it was a rare form of esophageal cancer. He started making plans for chemotherapy treatments.
Zach Eizak, 22, a 2021 Monroe High School graduate and current student at Monroe County Community College, has been diagnosed with a rare form of esophageal cancer.
Life changed for the Eizak family. Zach’s parents, James and Kay, and Philip, his identical twin brother, wanted to be there for support.
The brothers stopped taking master Mark Bergmooser’s taekwondo lessons in college. Zach just wasn’t strong enough.
On Facebook, Philip posted a photo of them both wearing their doboks.
Before Zach Eizak was diagnosed with cancer, Philip, left and Zach studied in master Mark Bergmooser’s taekwondo class at Monroe County Community College.
“Zach is a fighter,” Philip said in a text message. “He is so talented in acting, taekwondo and drawing characters. Zach is strong and I will support him on his journey.”
Kay, a nail technician at a salon in Monroe, started missing work. Her clients, Tara Farris and Sherri Zub, noticed and wanted to do something to help.
“Kay knows everyone from Monroe from the nail store,” Tara Farris said. “We wanted to do something to help. When Kay doesn’t work, she doesn’t get paid and works to support the family. Kay missed a lot of work because she went to appointments with Zach.
Farris and Zub put their heads together and hosted a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at Monroe High School Commons, 901 Herr Road, on Saturday, December 7 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Pictured is the Eizak family as Zach and Philip graduated from Monroe High School in 2021.
The cost is $15 per person. Children up to 5 years old are free. The meal will consist of salad, spaghetti, bread, drink and dessert. There will be 50/50 and basket lotteries.
Farris said the proceeds will go directly to offset the cost of Zach’s medical and gas bills, along with other needs he may face.
“The cancer Zach has is rare and usually affects teenagers and younger adult men,” Farris said. “He started chemo at the beginning of October. They tried a number of different types of chemo. The chemo is intense. He has lost a lot of weight and his hair.”
This article originally appeared in The Monroe News: Spaghetti dinner planned to help MCCC students facing cancer
