Support Bob and Catherine's journey
Donation protected
YES, you can HELP!!! We can make a DIFFERENCE!
Fourteen years ago Bob was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, a disease that affects about 2% of Baby Boomers. He went through rounds of treatments including multiple blood transfusions and hospitalizations. Bob went on the transplant list in 2006 and hovered at being too “well” for a transplant but too sick to participate fully in life. They always kept their sense of humor and love for living life at its fullest. Bob developed liver cancer in 2010 and was sick enough to be activated on the transplant list. Bags were packed and they waited for the call. On December 17, 2012, it came and they headed to San Francisco for a new liver and a new life. While it was the best night of their life they knew all to well that it was another family’s worst—their loved one’s donated organs would save Bob’s life. Bob’s transplant was a success, although not without complications, he was allergic to anti-rejection meds of choice. It was a rough few months but life was really looking hopeful. He was feeling well for the first time in years. He finished a novel that he had started years before, he began writing lyrics, and best of all he was back on his beloved basketball court. In early 2014, the Hepatitis returned with a vengeance but thanks to new medications it was cured, unfortunately being cured also threw him into acute and aggressive rejection. He was hospitalized on October 14, 2014 and began what is now a life-threatening decline. He spent a total of 9 weeks in the fall along with multiple return visits in January at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. Catherine’s amazing employer allowed her to work from Bobs bedside as she lived at the SF Holiday Inn. In the end the rejection was too severe, untreatable liver abscesses and damaged bile ducts all led doctors to determine that Bob could not be saved in California. Bob was again in line for a transplant, but the list in California was too long and he would be too sick for the complicated surgery required of a second transplant. If he stayed in California he would die. On January 28th, he was sent to the Ocshner Medical Center in New Orleans via air ambulance. He recently suffered a small bleed on the brain which is now under control, and they are awaiting a determination if he will be eligible here for a transplant. Ocshner does more transplants than anywhere in the nation. This is their best and last hope. Although they are far from home and missing family and friends, they are surrounded by kind doctors and nurses who all promise they won’t give up and a cadre of family and friends with them in spirit . Catherine is now living in the same room with Bob at the hospital. One of the hardest parts of this journey has been that they don’t know from one day to the next what to expect. Through this whole period of time, everyone has asked, “what can we do?”. Here is an opportunity to minimally alleviate some of the financial burden and show them that we are not only there in spirit, but we want to help make a difference. This has been a very long and lonely road and we worry and pray not only for Bobs full recovery but Catherine’s well being. Thank you in advance for your help in meeting this goal, and supporting Bob and Catherine's journey and reminding them that they are not alone.
Please share this site with your family and friends.
TOGETHER we WILL make a difference.
Fourteen years ago Bob was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, a disease that affects about 2% of Baby Boomers. He went through rounds of treatments including multiple blood transfusions and hospitalizations. Bob went on the transplant list in 2006 and hovered at being too “well” for a transplant but too sick to participate fully in life. They always kept their sense of humor and love for living life at its fullest. Bob developed liver cancer in 2010 and was sick enough to be activated on the transplant list. Bags were packed and they waited for the call. On December 17, 2012, it came and they headed to San Francisco for a new liver and a new life. While it was the best night of their life they knew all to well that it was another family’s worst—their loved one’s donated organs would save Bob’s life. Bob’s transplant was a success, although not without complications, he was allergic to anti-rejection meds of choice. It was a rough few months but life was really looking hopeful. He was feeling well for the first time in years. He finished a novel that he had started years before, he began writing lyrics, and best of all he was back on his beloved basketball court. In early 2014, the Hepatitis returned with a vengeance but thanks to new medications it was cured, unfortunately being cured also threw him into acute and aggressive rejection. He was hospitalized on October 14, 2014 and began what is now a life-threatening decline. He spent a total of 9 weeks in the fall along with multiple return visits in January at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. Catherine’s amazing employer allowed her to work from Bobs bedside as she lived at the SF Holiday Inn. In the end the rejection was too severe, untreatable liver abscesses and damaged bile ducts all led doctors to determine that Bob could not be saved in California. Bob was again in line for a transplant, but the list in California was too long and he would be too sick for the complicated surgery required of a second transplant. If he stayed in California he would die. On January 28th, he was sent to the Ocshner Medical Center in New Orleans via air ambulance. He recently suffered a small bleed on the brain which is now under control, and they are awaiting a determination if he will be eligible here for a transplant. Ocshner does more transplants than anywhere in the nation. This is their best and last hope. Although they are far from home and missing family and friends, they are surrounded by kind doctors and nurses who all promise they won’t give up and a cadre of family and friends with them in spirit . Catherine is now living in the same room with Bob at the hospital. One of the hardest parts of this journey has been that they don’t know from one day to the next what to expect. Through this whole period of time, everyone has asked, “what can we do?”. Here is an opportunity to minimally alleviate some of the financial burden and show them that we are not only there in spirit, but we want to help make a difference. This has been a very long and lonely road and we worry and pray not only for Bobs full recovery but Catherine’s well being. Thank you in advance for your help in meeting this goal, and supporting Bob and Catherine's journey and reminding them that they are not alone.
Please share this site with your family and friends.
TOGETHER we WILL make a difference.
Organizer
Denise Smart
Organizer
Stockton, CA
