My brother has Leukemia and needs a Transplant

UPDATE: Robert met with an Oncologist who specializes in his type of Leukemia on Friday, March 17, 2023 and was informed that he needs a Bone Marrow Transplant. They've registered him in the Transplant database and have started the typing process. Until he's matched he'll be receiving injections to prep him for the transplant. Once he's been matched, he'll be in the hospital for a total of 6 weeks and then, if everything goes okay, sent home requiring 24/7 care. He'll also need to go to Shadyside hospital 3 times a week to receive injections. Any assistant to help him pay for medical bills, transportation, etc. is greatly appreciated. We thank everyone who has already donated for your generosity.

My brother, Robert Burgman, has been dealing with severe health issues since August, 2022.

This past August he was diagnosed with double pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital for 7 days for IV antibiotics, as it was affecting his ability to breathe. He was subsequently released and sent home.

On September 18, 2022, he was readmitted to the hospital for 11 days for difficulty breathing. It was determined that he had fluid around his heart and fluid in his left lung. At that time he had 750 CC’s of fluid drained from his lung and was again, sent home.

He was readmitted into the hospital near the end of November, again for trouble breathing and fluid in the left lung. This time they drained 850 CC’s of fluid from his lung. At this time they ran multiple tests, one of which was a Bone Marrow Biopsy. After the biopsy, Robert was diagnosed with CMML-1 or

Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia which is a cancer of the blood. During this time his blood sugar spiked due to the steroids he was on, to the point that he was put on insulin while in the hospital. He was put on medication, i.e. chemo pill for leukemia and Metformin for diabetes and released from the

hospital.

From September to the end of December, he was on FMLA and on Short-term Disability, or trying his hardest to keep working.

On February 21, 2023 he once again was having severe difficulty breathing and severe pain is his lower left abdomen. He was admitted to UPMC East – it has been determined that his leukemia has started to progress faster than the doctors thought it would and it has caused his spleen to enlarge, causing the

pain in his abdomen. They’re also running additional tests to try and determine the cause of his breathing issue. He’s had a Heart cath, which showed issues with the heart. The next test they’re discussing is a lung biopsy – which is very invasive and a last but needed option.

Robert is a driver for S&S Transit, which provides door-to-door, paratransit services to Allegheny County. He’s been informed by his doctors (PCP, Oncologist and Pulmonologist) that due to his severely compromised immune system, he’s not going to able to go back to that type of work. He will soon start receiving IV infusion chemotherapy up to 3 times a week (or more) for at least 5 to 6 months. This will be followed by a bone marrow/stem cell transplant and then another round of chemotherapy. All in all, he’s not going to be able to work for at least a year. He has exhausted his FMLA benefits with his employer and only has a short amount of time left on Short-term Disability. Once he has exceed that, the only income he and his wife will have will be her

Social Security Disability.

I am starting this GoFundMe account on behalf of my bother to try and help him with any medical and living expenses that are going to begin to add up very quickly.

Our family thanks you for your help and prayers.

His loving sisters,

Kath, Donna, Diane and Robin