Please help Bobby Levin and JoAnne--

I am writing to you as a longtime friend to ask for your support in helping Bobby Levin and his wife JoAnne get back on their feet after a serious and debilitating illness that has left Bobby nearly incapacitated and JoAnne managing the impossible tasks of caregiver, wife, household manager, and income producer simultaneously.

In July of this year, Bobby, was diagnosed with Lymphoma. This was the third time in ten years, but he had been cancer-free for the last seven. And the previous two times, he virtually sailed through chemotherapy. This time was very different.

Almost from the beginning, he experienced profound fatigue and weakness. So JoAnne, as his sole caregiver, began taking on more household tasks. As the months went by, however, the fatigue worsened. Bobby suffered edema, lost his appetite and grew weaker and weaker. They were assured, however, that the treatment was working. Even still, they were able to manage his symptoms.

Then in November, crisis! Bobby became very ill. Alarmed, they went to the ER. Bobby was hospitalized, diagnosed with sepsis, a serious, life-threatening infection. When his heart rate spiked to 150, he was transferred to the cardiac unit where he received blood transfusions. After four days, the doctors stabilized him, put him on antibiotics and sent him home.

JoAnne managed his care for the next week, but his symptoms continued to worsen. In 7 days he lost 12 pounds. He developed severe anemia, was cold all the time, and unsteady on his feet. On the morning of December 10th, JoAnne decided they should go to the Cancer Center for help. On the way to the car, Bobby fell, hitting his head on the cement walkway. JoAnne was told to take him to the ER. When, at 2AM, his blood pressure crashed, he was rushed to the ICU, where he remained for four days.

After another four days in the regular hospital, doctors were able to stabilize his symptoms, and Bob was transferred to the hospital’s Rehabilitation Unit where he has been working hard to re-learn to walk with a walker and perform self-care, with the goal of becoming independent once again. However, because he remains very weak and needs 24/7 attention, their next step is to move Bobby to a Skilled Nursing Facility in Albuquerque, so he can gain more strength before bringing him home. Meanwhile, pet scan results in mid-January will show if chemotherapy has been effective.

While Bobby’s spirits remain positive despite the setbacks, this journey has taken its toll, physically, emotionally and financially. Both the illness and demands of caregiving have affected their ability to manifest income. As savings have been depleted, expenses have mounted. There are medical expenses (est. $5k) and they will need support such as home health services to make the burden of care manageable when Bobby returns home (Senior home care for 7 hours/week = approx. $1k/mo.).

Your donation would help them get back on their feet so they can begin reconfiguring their lives. JoAnne and Bobby welcome you to reach out and are very grateful for your support.