Kill Crohn's - keeping hope alive

More MRIs scheduled...


09/27/17
Morning everyone. I just posted a new update about Rob. He has 2 more MRIs scheduled - see post for details.

03/19/17
A belated update encompassing the last month:

-Healing is happening but at a slower pace than anticipated and in a roller coaster and, especially for Rob, frustrating sort of way. Since the surgery was able to work a few days here and there but full return has thwarted.

Rob has been experiencing:

-Intermittent fever blisters spreading to and re-opening wound;
-Some veg is able to be eaten but hard to digest therefore mostly avoided;
-Hydration difficult to maintain so assisted with occasional clinic visits for IV fluids;
-Blister formed, incised and debrided; and most recently,
-Suture knots from surgery broke up but failed to dissolve causing infection. Visit to surgeon for out-patient surgery.

The GREAT news here, though, is when an infection like this appears it is usually caused by either a fistual or suture issue - the fistual being the worst case scenario. Rob's luck held out and his pain and infection was caused by the suture issue so was easier to resolve.

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Just as it is with inflammation and Crohn's, malabsorption of nutrients and water is an expected and an unfortunate piece (no pun intended) of bowel resectioning/removal. This is a big issue in getting the body what it needs to help in the healing process ... the Catch 22 of this disease.

Hang in there, everyone. With your help we're getting there! 


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01/03/2017
¡Happy New Year everyone!

•Thanks for helping Rob get through the holidays•

If you are interested in connecting with Rob but you don't have his current information, you can leave a comment on this GFM page or post to his personal Facebook page (not the GFM one.)

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01/01/2017 Update
Home after 2nd hospital stay. Monotoring for any onset of infection.


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11/21/2016   UPDATE!!!!
Today's surgery was a success. Dr. N "could not be happier with the results." His recovery will be "long and painful" but his body is in good shape and he has a strong abdominal wall so after about 3 months he should be back to...no...he should be back to BETTER than normal!!!

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"All hands on deck.
-Dr. N planning to block out 24 hrs for surgery

*Calling for assistance covering Rob's living and medical expenses pre and post surgery and during the 3 month recovery period, on leave from work.*

Last year friends, family and anonymous donors contributed to Rob's GoFundMe campaign allowing him to recover from 4 consecutive surgeries and focus on ongoing rehabilitation without the added stress of insolvency.

There is no way to thank you all enough for covering his expenses.

In light of your past generosity, we hesitated creating another GoFundMe campaign. Maybe we are asking too much?

But 2016 didn't bring with it the remission we hoped for.

For all his tenacity and self-care, the Crohn’s has continued to ravage Rob's body and deprive him of a respite from the emotional and physical toll of battling an enemy day after day, year after year.

Recently Rob underwent yet another high-dose radiological procedure. The advanced MRI screening shows a tumor of at least 6cm, comprehensive bowel and bladder adhesion and thickened and damaged bladder and intestinal walls.

As Rob says, it's a 'major cluster f*@!' and surgery to remove and restructure organ tissue is the only viable option.

His previous surgeon, Dr. N, will head the veteran medical team needed for a surgery so delicate that 24 hours will be blocked out to allow for contingencies. We are hopeful that everything will go as planned especially because of Dr. N's familiarity with Rob's case (e.g. his innards) and of the precautions needed to prevent infections and another septicemia scare.

Rob needs assistance covering medical expenses pre- and post surgery and during the 3 month recovery period while on leave from work.

Thank you once again for helping a man with versatile talents and a brilliant mind, who believes in the integrity of law enforcement and dedicates himself to the safety of his community (awarded the Citizens Citation for Distinguished Service for preventing fatalities by stopping and apprehending an active shooter without unnecessary force or bloodshed).

We need him to stick around!

Written with much love on Rob's behalf