chuckstrong fundraiser

Chuck Rood was born July 9th 1968 in Huntington West Virginia. For as long as he can remember, he’s been a fan of Franco Harris. Chuck just loved watching Franco play! His moves and attitude were just so exhilarating ! At the age of 7 all he wanted was to be just like Franco. He would sneak to his bedroom door when he was supposed to be in bed, catching a glimpse of the Steelers playing on Monday night football. You could always find Chuck playing football on Sunday’s after the game, in the front yards of his best friends. At age 11 he got his very 1st Steelers jersey! He saved every penny he made for a week, and headed down to Dan’s sporting Goods to get it…his thoughts racing the whole way there ”Is it still going to be there a week later?” …IT WAS! For $10 he just bought his favorite players jersey…Yes it was #32 Franco Harris! (He still has it to this day!) Thus began the legend #32 Rood. Chuck played basketball in middle school and on through high school,(He use to hang out with the Marshal University basketball team practicing his basketball skills ,which helped him in becoming an all state player).He played Babe Ruth, and was an all star for his baseball team who won 6th in the Nation in Altoona Michigan. What an experience that was for a young man at 15 years old! He just loved playing ball so much that he played for American Legion after high school until he was to old to play, thus began his legendary career as a softball player. He had several teams wanting him to play for them every year, and was an all star at that as well. He continued playing up until 3 years ago, when his health began declining. He contributes a lot of his athletic abilities to the great work ethics he learned from Franco. He was never a quitter, and worked out as hard as he could to be the best that he could! This has rolled over in his adulthood life as well. He took custody of his 3 children when they were 4 years old(twin boys at that!) He has worked so hard all his life to provide for his children, until his health took a turn for the worse. He started getting sick in Oct 2011,and at this time he began getting spots on his nose that were later diagnosed as skin cancer in February 2012. A few days after the diagnosis, he was having reconstruction surgery done on his face and ear. He began having to go for checkups every 3 months at which he was again beginning to have more and more spots appear. Eventually having to have procedures to freeze the spots on his face. In February 2014 he began getting very ill. He was nauseous all the time, vomiting, and had no energy, stomach pain, and a lump had formed on his cheek. He also began having problems swallowing his food. It would get caught in his throat and he would choke. Soon he was unable to eat anything but soft food, and most of the time was not even feeling like eating anything. He had gotten down to 112 lbs at this time! He continued go to the doctor, all along getting negative results time after time ,and yet more and more referrals to other doctors. He eventually was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his cheek bone and surgery was done on July 21,2014. He has lost the sensation on his left side of his face, and in constant pain in his facial area. It was discovered that his skin cancer had been draining down into his throat, and once the tumor was removed it began spreading like wildfire. Within 3 weeks it had spread to his head, neck and chest. He began 35 radiation treatments in Aug 2014, knowing that there was a good possibility that it was not going to work. He has had to endure so much pain and ended up getting a feeding tube as he was down to 102 lbs ! He continues to fight for his life, as his lungs have been filling up with fluids every time he takes a drink. Chuck has been through so much with this health journey and this is just the beginning of his problems. He has been fighting to get disability for over a year now, and still to no avail. As of May, he has no income, due to limitations on short term disability through his employer. He and his family have been forced to live with his father in a 1 bedroom apartment as he has nowhere else for them to stay. He has been just getting by every month through a Gofundme fund raiser that was established in a group called the Steelers Fanatics. This group has been his lifeline in so many ways! He has a tremendous fan following who send cards, gifts, donations and prayers. He has made friends for a lifetime, that have kept him inspired and encouraged throughout this aweful journey. This fundraiser has helped keep him going with his prescriptions and medical needs, as well as for his teenage children’s needs. The problem is it has only raised $1120 in nearly 5 months. He has no extra money left for anything extra. Chuck has just a couple last wishes for his life and they are 1) He wants a home for him and his children to spend quality time together as he is not sure he has much time left. (He is certain the radiation was unsuccessful as he is feeling worse than ever, and there are spots returning on his nose already, with his last radiation treatment being less than 2 weeks ago. The doctors have also told him they are certain it did not work, but no official results as of yet.
2) He wants to go to the Pittsburgh Steelers home game on Nov 2nd with his dad and his best friend whom he meet through the Steelers Fanatics group. (He has been to many games, but never with his father). He also has had a lifelong dream of meeting Franco Harris and he is in hopes that this dream could be fulfilled at this time as well. Chuck has given so much to his community through volunteering in kids sports until his health no longer has allowed it. He has always paid it forward, and has big plans to continue to paying it forward as soon as he is able. He is a very deserving father and friend and I would just ask that you could find it in your heart to make his last wishes come true! Our hope is to raise enough money to make these dreams become a reality for Chuck and his very deserving family!